Betty Bowen (15 Oct 1928 - 11 Feb 2021)

In loving memory of Betty Bowen who passed away peacefully on Thursday 11th February 2021, aged 92.
She will sadly be missed by all her family and friends.

Betty Bowen, born Margaret Betty Sansom on 15th October 1928 to Gladys and Wilfred Sansom in Stretford, Greater Manchester, younger sister to Joan, spending her early life brought up in Liverpool. The day war broke out in 1939, a 10 year old Betty was evacuated to Hollywell, North Wales but returned to Liverpool at Christmas in time for the Blitz.
Betty decided early on that she wanted to go to University to study physiotherapy and after leaving, spent 6 years running relaxation classes for expectant mothers.
Betty met Bob Gilroy and they got married in 1954, moving to Gloucester then onto Penwortham, Preston. In 1964 and 1965 they adopted Richard and Claire before relocating to the south coast in 1972. They ran a general store and post office, then Betty returned to work as a physio, starting a new job at Romsey Hospital in 1976 staying there until her retirement in 1988. Sadly Bob had become unwell in 1985 so they moved to Romsey until he passed away in 1989. Betty kept herself busy by working as a tour guide at Broadlands for nearly 20 years, and as a driver for the Masters House for 5 years. She also joined a local amateur dramatics society, Nomads, where she met Vincent Bowen, getting married in 1994 and spent over 16 happy years together, until Vin passed away on 28th February 2011.
Betty was an active participant in all Romsey had to offer – lunch clubs, Friendship club, Cameo, and various coffee and “soup and roll” mornings, and her passion of filling shoe boxes for children for charity. She was also a regular church goer, firstly attending St Swithuns and then later the United Reform Church in Romsey.
Sadly Betty’s health deterioriated in January 2018 and she was diagnosed with dementia, spending the last few years of her life before being cared for at Brook Lane Residential Care Home.
Betty will be sadly missed by both her son Richard, his wife Nancy and their children Robert and Anna, and daughter Claire and her children Jodi and Cameron, and Betty’s extended family on Vin’s side, including a message from Vin’s granddaughter Jenny after hearing of Betty’s passing:
“My overall memory (of Betty) will always be that she saved my grandad and enabled him to live to the ripe old age that he did, so I’ll always thank her for that. I saw the loneliness end for him and he suddenly had so much energy and smiles again”