Virginia "Ginny" Bowler

Virginia Bowler, 90, passed away peacefully Friday, July 17, 2015 at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa due to complications from a fall and COPD.

Virginia was born August 22, 1924 in Liberty Center, Iowa to Paul and Mona (Thompson) Ramsey. She attended elementary school in Liberty Center and in a country schoolhouse in Zooksburg, Iowa. She graduated from Madrid High School in 1942 and went on to attend AIB. She worked for a brief time at Traveler’s Insurance before becoming a Cadet Nurse, earning her RN degree from Mercy School of Nursing. She met and married the love of her life, Melvin Bowler in Des Moines in 1948. They were married for 66 years prior to his death in 2015.

Virginia worked as a registered nurse and as a patient care coordinator at Mercy Hospital for over 50 years. Her passion was taking care of patients, family, and neighbors alike. She was an extremely generous and giving person, always baking gifts and making care packages for family and friends. She enjoyed baking, cooking, and flower gardening. She liked working crossword puzzles with her sister, JoAnn. Music and dancing were parts of her life and the Lawrence Welk show was a weekly event. Her family and grandchildren will miss her homemade chicken and noodles and chocolate chip cookies.

Virginia is survived by her daughter, Nancy (Ron) Keller of Clive; son, Melvin Bowler Jr. of Bellevue; grandchildren, Stacey Ambs of Frisco, Texas, Ginny (Bruce) Smith of Des Moines, Rusty (Lindsey) Grant of West Des Moines, Jessica Keller (Zach Schulte) of West Des Moines, and Adrienne Ploeger of Ames; great-grandchildren, Brittany, Ashley, Candice, Jordan, Peyton, Morgan, Gracie, and Rexley; brothers, Don Ramsey of Des Moines and Larry (Karen) Ramsey of Vero Beach, Florida; sister, JoAnn (Bob) Pierick of Ankeny; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Melvin Sr.; daughter, Candace Schmaker; parents, Paul and Mona Ramsey; mother-in-law, Agnes Jacobson Bowler; and sisters-in-law, Virginia (Stuart) Petersen and Donna (Al) Holloway.

The family will greet friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Monday, July 20, 2015, at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street, Des Moines. Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 21, also at the funeral home, followed by a short burial service at Liberty Center Cemetery in Liberty Center, Iowa.

Memorial contributions may be directed to First United Methodist Church, 1001 Pleasant Street, Des Moines, IA 50309.

Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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