Edith L. Underwood

Edith L. (Bowen) Underwood entered the presence of her Lord and Savior, early Wednesday morning, September 9, while hospitalized at St Mary's Hospital, Duluth, Minnesota. She and her husband, Chuck, were celebrating their 61st wedding anniversary, September 5, retracing their September, 1948 honeymoon trip, as well as vacationing in North Central Minnesota. She was enjoying reasonably good health and during the morning hours of Tuesday, September 8, she sustained a massive stroke.
Edith was born to Marion and Floy Bowen, March 2, 1930, in their farm home, Milford Township, Crawford County, Iowa. She passed into His eternal glorious presence at the age of 79 plus years. She spent the early years of her life enjoying the close associations of her dedicated parents, one sister, Irma Jean, and one brother, Robert Bowen. She attended country schools and graduated from Denison High School. Among those in her childhood immediate family, she is survived by one brother, Robert Bowen, Ida Grove, Iowa as well as several nieces and nephews.
As a high school teenager, through the ministry of the Blackwood Brothers quartet, she came to faith in Jesus Christ, receiving Him as her personal Savior and Lord. She became an active 4-H club leader and through these activities met a young man, Chuck Underwood. After dating several months, she became, as Chuck would describe her, "the love of his life". Surrounded and supported by friends and family, Chuck and Edith, were joined together in marriage on September 5, 1948 at the altar of The First Presbyterian Church, Denison, Iowa, committing the rest of the lives and days to one another, "for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part."
Under the leadership of The Lordship of Jesus Christ, their lives were blessed with two daughters and two sons-in-law, Nancy Rae (John) Maehl, Elizabeth (Paul) Womacks, two sons, and two daughters-in-law, Rick (Anne Margaret) Underwood, William G (Sheryl) Underwood, one Vietnamese foster son and daughter-in-law, Tri Minh Dang and MyVan Dang, 13 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren.
Chuck and Edith were recognized by "America’s Family Coaches" for their 50th wedding anniversary with the "Commitment to Marriage Award". One Saturday early August, 2008, their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren recognized their 60th marriage anniversary with a surprise party in downtown Des Moines, Iowa. Most of her children, grandchildren and great- grandchildren were present.
Little did they realize, but their last church service together, was two days before her eternal graduation day into the glorious presence of her Savior, Jesus Christ. On Sunday, September 6, 2009, one day following their 61st wedding anniversary, she and her husband Chuck, attended the morning services at the Deer River Bible Church, Deer River, Minnesota. Most interestingly, Pastor Gaylord Finch's sermon centered on I Corinthians, chapter 7, focusing on God's truth and principles surrounding the Christian marriage.
Edith's family kindly requests no flowers. Memorial gifts can be made to Gideons International for the sole purpose of purchasing and placement/distribution of God's Word around to world. All are reminded every cent of these memorials will be used to the purchase and placement of God's Holy Word.
The Underwood family is grateful for every prayer and well wish extended to the family during Edith's homegoing. The radiance and joy of her life will be sorely missed by her husband, family and many others. Please continue to pray for them.

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