Alice M. Bowden

Alice M. Bowden passed away on Sept. 7, 2021 at Ascension Via Christi Village in Manhattan, KS.

Alice was born Sept. 6, 1930, in Wyandotte, MI to George J. and Susan (McPherson) Murray. Alice had a happy childhood spending summers with her family at her grandma’s farm and also her cottage on Cavanaugh Lake. Alice was an excellent student and spelling bee champion and skipped two grades during elementary school. Alice was also an excellent singer from an early age and first performed on-stage at the age of six.
After WWII, Alice met veteran Robert Bowden, also from Wyandotte, at Michigan State University. They shared a love for music and were married on June 8, 1951. They had three children, Bob Jr., Andrea, and David. Alice raised her family in Troy, MI and was fortunate to be surrounded by incredibly wonderful neighbors over the years. She was especially appreciative of Don and Beverly Seidel, Dave and Jackie Fredrickson, and Jerry and Linda Reed. Holidays and summer vacations were usually with her sister Marilyn’s family including nieces Lisa and Elaine and nephew Michael. She worked hard and got a Master of Education degree from Oakland University and taught second to fifth grade for 25 years in the Avondale School District. She received recognition as an outstanding teacher and loved it when former students came back to visit her.

After retirement, Alice devoted much of her time to singing in her church choir, a passion she shared with husband, Bob. There she formed a close bond with Music Director/Organist Steve Schlesing that lasted to the end. She had too many choir friends to list them all, but the longest friendship was with Ruth Parks. According to Alice, one of the luckiest things in her life was having her grandchildren, Lynne and Alex, as next-door neighbors. She loved the chance to share their young lives and walk them to and from school. Another very lucky thing was joining the Adult Learning Institute at Oakland Community College around 1995. There she made great friends Joan Anneberg, Mary Ann Marini, Barb Maniscalco, and Pat Limbird. Alice was particularly proud to be on the curriculum committee and be the spelling and grammar editor of the course catalog. Alice loved spending time and beachcombing on Sanibel Island, FL and reported going there at least 28 times over the years with her family. During her later years in Michigan, Alice appreciated the help and companionship of Dana Cowper and Diane Dettloff.

After experiencing declining health, Alice moved to Manhattan, KS to be near her son, Bob, and daughter-in-law Ann in 2015. Alice prospered in her new home and made many new friends. Alice was a people person and loved her friendships with all the residents, nurses, aides, and staff at Via Christi. She was especially lucky to befriend fellow resident Caroline Mulhern and share their love of word play and spelling.

Alice was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and sisters Marilyn and Sylvia.

Survivors include son Bob (Ann), Manhattan, KS; daughter Andrea, Boca Raton, FL; son David (Cheryl), Glen Allen, VA; nieces Lisa (Roger) and Elaine (Larry), nephews Michael (Mary) and Ellis, grandchildren David, Daniel, Lynne (Juan), Alex, Elena, Maya, and two great-grandchildren Abby and Emmy.

A private Celebration of Life will be held at a future date for the family.