Obituary of Bessie Bowen

Bessie "Betty" Bowen,  92, of Westfield, N.Y., passed away Friday evening, Aug. 7, 2020, at Twinbrook Healthcare & Rehab Center in Erie, Pa. Betty was born April 7, 1928, in Ripley, N.Y., the daughter of the late Chester and Lizzie (Smith) Waite. She married Calvin A. Bowen on Jan. 16, 1949. He preceded her in death on Oct. 15, 2019. A Westfield and Ripley area resident all her life, Betty worked side by side with her husband, Calvin on their dairy farm. She enjoyed gardening and grew all types of fruits and vegetables. She was well known for her canning of beans, tomatoes, peaches, pickles and other foods, and liked baking, especially with her grandchildren. Betty was an accomplished seamstress, who made wedding dresses Page: 1 for her nieces. In her free time, she enjoyed reading mystery novels and watching TV, especially MASH and her favorite sports team, the Buffalo Bills. Betty was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Westfield. She was very active and held various offices in the Volusia and Ripley Grange. Surviving are her three sons: Dennis Bowen of Westfield, N.Y., David Bowen of Lincoln, Neb., and Douglas Bowen and his wife Darlene of Ripley, N.Y. Betty cherished her grandchildren: Rebecca (Sidney) Meeder of Ripley, N.Y., Amanda Foster of Florida, Matthew Bowen of Utah and Chelsey (Andrew Strine) Bowen of Ripley, N.Y.; five great-grandchildren; a brother, Francis Waite of Livingston Manor, N.Y.; and several nieces and nephews also survive. In addition to her parents and her husband of 70 years, Calvin A. Bowen, Betty was preceded in death by five sisters: Leona Bowen, Ruth Thorp, Marion Sawin, Edith Rowe and Alice Waite; two brothers: Lawrence and Gerald Waite; and a granddaughter, Jessica Bowen. The family will have a private graveside service at the Volusia Cemetery, Betty’s family encourages memorial contributions be made to the Volusia Cemetery Association, c/o Mark Winslow, 8451 Pigeon Road, Ripley, NY 14775. Log onto www. mason funeral.com to send the Bowen family a message of sympathy, to light a memorial candle or for further information.