Beryl Murray Bowen's Obituary
Beryl M. Bowen, 92, formerly of Arlington, Virginia, passed away on May 30, 2013.
Born July 2, 1920, in Liverpool, West Virginia, to the late E. M. and Ethel Murray, Beryl was also predeceased by her husband, Robert Bowen, brothers Rex and Tommy Murray, and granddaughter, Elizabeth John. She is survived by daughters Barbara John and Susan Bowers; grandchildren Thomas John, Jordan Jeffrey, and Katherine Reed; sisters Lela Anderson and Janet Wilson; brothers Buck and Jim Murray; as well as many cousins, nieces, and nephews in multiple generations.
Beryl Murray graduated from Spencer High School and West Virginia Business College, and in 1941, began a long civilian career with the United States Air Force (known during World War II as the United States Army Air Forces). Beryl was one of many females whom, as she would say, “came to Washington to work for the Federal Government.” During the 1940s, she enjoyed the typical experience of that time, living in female boardinghouses with roommates from many other places in the U.S. who all shared meals, walked together to work, and formed lifelong friendships. As the War Department workforce expanded, more office space was required, and Beryl moved with the transfer of her office to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and in turn, Langley Field in Hampton, Virginia. In 1950, she returned to the DC area to work at the Pentagon, so as to be near her fiancé. Mrs. Bowen proudly retired in 1990 at the age of 70.
A resident of Arlington, Virginia, for 54 years until her 2004 move to the Hermitage in nearby Alexandria, Beryl relocated to the Aldersgate Retirement Community in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2011. Beryl was a loyal member of Arlington United Methodist Church for more than 60 years, and was involved in many church activities, including teaching sixth-grade Sunday School, serving as secretary to the church administrative board, and visiting the homebound. After retirement, she joined the Sarah Bailey Circle, held the office of secretary of the AUMC United Methodist Women, and volunteered as a trained literacy tutor for Arlington County. A voracious and constant reader for the majority of her life, Beryl always looked forward to annually sending and receiving Christmas cards – she was renowned for her Christmas Card Tree.
A service celebrating Beryl’s life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, June 7, 2013, at Hopewell United Methodist Church, 23557 Lignum Road, Lignum, Virginia, with visitation from 12-1 prior to the service, and interment at Culpeper National Cemetery immediately afterward.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Arlington United Methodist Church, 716 South Glebe Road, Arlington, Virginia, 22204, or to a charitable organization of your choice.
Found and Sons Funeral Chapel of Culpeper is serving the family.
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