Rosemary Rhodes Bowlin

Rosemary Rhodes Bowlin of Pocahontas, Arkansas, widow of Paul R. Bowlin and a civic and cultural leader, died on November 1, 2013. Born in Crossett, Arkansas, on June 21, 1921, Mrs. Bowlin was the youngest daughter of James Robert and Ellen Huntley Rhodes. Mrs. Bowlin grew up in Arkadelphia, Arkansas where she graduated from Ouachita College with a degree in English and Home Economics. She met her future husband, Paul Bowlin, at Ouachita, and married him in 1941, the year before his father, Ray V. Bowlin, opened Bowlin Furniture Company in Pocahontas. During WWII Mrs. Bowlin joined countless other American wives waiting anxiously at home for news of their husbands who were serving overseas. Despite her admonitions to her husband not to bring home any medals, Lt. Bowlin nevertheless was awarded the Silver Star and two Bronze Stars for Gallantry in Action while Company Commander of "E" Company of the 415th Infantry of the 104th "Timberwolves" Division. The Bowlins were reunited after VE Day in 1945 and moved to Pocahontas where they owned and operated Bowlin Furniture Company for 52 years, expanding to stores in Walnut Ridge, Jonesboro, Batesville, Osceola and Blytheville. In 1949 they built their home at 1920 Paula Street in the Bowlin Addition, a 40-acre tract of wood land that had been developed by Ray Bowlin, Mrs. Bowlin's father-in-law, during the war years. Ray Bowlin had named one of the streets after his first grandchild, Paula, who was born during the war. Mrs. Bowlin held leadership positions in many civic, cultural and educational organizations, giving freely of her time and talents to help her community and her state grow and thrive. Her many contributions included service on the Planning Commission for the City of Pocahontas, on the first Swimming Pool Committee, in the Pocahontas Woman's Club, and in Delta Kappa Gamma Society for Key Women Educators. She was a Charter Member of Pocahontas P.E.O., and for many years was a librarian at Pocahontas High School and a feature writer for the Pocahontas Star Herald. Many of her activities were in support of the education of her three children. She was active in P.T.A., in Band Parents and Scouts, and spent countless hours taking her children to music lessons and attending band, piano and orchestra concerts. If opportunities did not exist, she created them, as when she persuaded a ballet teacher from Memphis to come to Pocahontas once a week to teach girls in Pocahontas Grade School and when she helped form a Girl Scout Troop for Pocahontas. Like her husband, Mrs. Bowlin understood the importance and the unique character of Arkansas' history and its cultural heritage. She was a Charter Member of the Committee of 100, an organization composed of volunteers from throughout Arkansas dedicated to promoting and raising funds for the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View. Mrs. Bowlin served for many years on the Acquisitions Committee for the Folk Center. In addition, with her husband and other dedicated volunteers in Pocahontas, Mrs. Bowlin worked for years on the successful effort to preserve and maintain the Old Randolph County Courthouse, one of Arkansas' historical and architectural treasures. Mrs. Bowlin was a life-long member of the First Baptist Church of Pocahontas where she often taught Sunday School. She pursued many interests, among them English Literature and antique furniture. By far her greatest love, however, was her family. She maintained close contact with her 4 brothers and 4 sisters and their families, and she devoted herself to her beloved husband, Paul, and to her children and grandchildren. On June 23, 2001, her children honored their parents with a 60th Anniversary Celebration at the Rolling Hills Country Club in Pocahontas. Over 250 friends and family members joined in celebrating the long and happy marriage of Rosemary and Paul Bowlin. Mr. Bowlin died on July 30 of that year. Mrs. Bowlin was predeceased by her husband, Paul, her parents, brothers James Robert Rhodes II, Edward Rhodes, Huntley Rhodes and William Rhodes and sisters Elizabeth McDaniel, Melba Dooley and Agnes Harrelson. She is survived by a daughter, Paula Bowlin Huntley, of Durango, Colorado, and 2 sons, David Bowlin of Pocahontas and Robert Bowlin of Cobden, Illinois, a sister, Marguerite Brown of Jonesboro, three grandsons, Paul Robert Wrapp of Fairfield, California and Timothy and Carter Bowlin of Nashville, Tennessee and two great-grandchildren, Emily Elizabeth and Paul Robert Wrapp Jr. Her daughter-in-law, Linda Oakley Bowlin of Pocahontas, and son-in-law, Edwin Villmoare of Durango, Colorado, and several nieces and nephews will also mourn the loss of this kind, generous, remarkable woman. Services will be private. Arrangements are under the direction of McNabb Funeral Home. Memorial gifts in the name of Mrs. Bowlin may be made to Five Rivers Historic Preservation, Inc., 107 E. Everett St., Pocahontas, AR 72455, or to the charity of your choice.