Patricia Carroll Bowles' Obituary
Pat Bowles, loving wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, January 20, 2011, after a valiant three year battle with cancer. Following a private burial at Memory Park Cemetery earlier in the day, a memorial service will be held Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at 2:00PM at Oakland Heights Baptist Church with Brother Wayne Spanhanks officiating. A formal visitation and continued celebration of Pat's life will be held immediately following at the Summit Club in downtown Longview.
Pat was born March 5, 1946, the beloved adoptive daughter of Samuel Allen and Fay Walker Haggard. She graduated in 1964 as valedictorian of Judson High School where she was active in the band as majorette and drum major. After graduating from Kilgore College, she married Dennis J. "Spike" Bowles, Sr., and attended Stephen F. Austin and later moved to Austin to attend the University of Texas. While he worked on his pharmacy degree, she completed her bachelor's degree in education, earning membership in the Kappa Delta Pi honor society. Pat was a stalwart supporter of the Texas Longhorns throughout her life.
Following Spike's graduation, they returned to Longview to start their family. Within the next six years, they had four wonderful sons to fill their lives with love and laughter.
Always involved in and supportive of their sons' school activities, Pat was awarded a Lifetime Membership in the PTA at Spring Hill. Many of her efforts were focused on baseball, helping organize major tournaments and supporting the teams of all four boys.
After raising her sons, Pat was equally enthusiastic in supporting the activities and interests or her grandchildren. With seven grandsons and two granddaughters, she felt a special commitment to quality educational and sports programs for their schools. She and Spike helped many students with past scholarships and ongoing contributions to the Spring Hill Education Foundation established in their honor. Even during continued medical treatment, she participated in school fund raising projects, attended baseball games all over the area, and hosted numerous team parties at her home.
The most important blessings in Pat's life were her family and her faith in Christ. Having been an only child, she delighted in being surrounded by all her sons and their families whether at home, at the lake, or on extended family vacations. She took equal joy in finding opportunities to share her testimony of faith with others, believing that God would use her illness to His glory.
Pat is survived by her loving husband of 44 years, Dennis J. "Spike" Bowles, Sr.; four sons and their families, all of Longview: Denny Bowles and Kay and grandchildren Tripp, Colby and Carolann Bowles; Brad Bowles and Allison and grandchildren Whitten, and Eliza Bowles; Patrick Bowles and Crystal and grandchildren Camden and Cayden Bowles; and Jeff Bowles and Danya and grandchildren Sam and Luke Bowles. Also surviving is an uncle, Lewis E. Williams, Sr.
Pat was preceded in death by her parents, Samuel Allen and Fay Walker Haggard, and her in-laws, Elbert Dennis and Erma G. Hunt Bowles, Jr..
Memorials may be made to Heart'sWay Hospice, 1306 Pine Tree Rd., Longview, TX 75604; or St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105; or Baylor Cancer Center, 3535 Worth St., Dallas, TX 75246.
A memorial guestbook may be signed online at www.raderfh.com.
What’s your fondest memory of Patricia?
What’s a lesson you learned from Patricia?
Share a story where Patricia's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Patricia you’ll never forget.
How did Patricia make you smile?