Barbara Lee Bowling's Obituary
Barbara Lee Tetrick Bowling, 70, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, December 11, 2014. She lived a life dedicated to others. She loved people and was interested in everyone and their stories. She was a tireless volunteer for community and charitable causes both in her native West Virginia and Newark, Ohio, her home for 48 years.
Barbara was born on October 1, 1944, in Clarksburg, West Virginia, to Edwin and Marie Armstrong Tetrick. She graduated from Shinnston High School and Fairmont State College, where she majored in Elementary Education. After graduation, she began a life-long association with Camp Thomas E. Lightfoot in Hinton, West Virginia, a summer camp established for the children of coal miners by the Eastern Associated Coal Company. Barb served as a camp counselor and Dean of Women for five years. In 1969 she married William C. Bowling, her fellow camp counselor, in an outdoor ceremony at the camp.
Barbara moved to Newark, Ohio, in 1966, and worked as a kindergarten teacher for the Newark City Schools for twenty years. In 1983, she retired from teaching and began a new phase of life, serving the community in many ways. She founded the Marfan Support Group of Central Ohio She was a founder of the East Side Food Pantry at Christ United Methodist Church, where she was a member for 48 years. She was a member of the Hannah Circle UMC and co-founder of an after school program for children called Friendship Hour. She led her church in becoming involved in city and county-wide charity efforts, including and the CROP Walk for World Hunger and The March of Dimes. She was a member of the Emmaus Community and Monday talks, a social organization.
Barb was preceded in death by her parents and her son, Benjamin C. Bowling. She is survived by her husband, Bill, her son Bradlee C. Bowling, and her sister, Judy (David) Hack of Belmont, West Virginia.
As her final contribution to education, Barb has donated her body for medical research.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 13 at 1pm at Christ United Methodist Church, 10 North Cedar Street in Newark. The family will receive friends at noon before the service begins at l pm. A gathering for food and fellowship at the church will follow the service.
Donations may be made in her memory to the Marfan Foundation, 22 Manhasset Avenue, Port Washington, New York, 11050 or online at www.marfan.org/get-involved/give/memorial.
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