Mary Gennie Bowen

Asheville, N.C. - Mary Gennie Church Bowen, 85, of Asheville, N.C., died Friday, Feb. 15, 2008 at Givens Estates. A native of Habersham County, Ga., she was the daughter of the late Charles Emory Church and Lavinia Asden Hicks Church. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Wallace Morning Bowen; a sister, Cora Lee Church Irvin and four brothers, Lewis, Reeves, Ervin and Howard Church. She is survived by her daughter, Sandra Faith Thompson of Duluth, Ga; her son, Wallace Morning Bowen, Jr. of Asheville, N.C.; three grandchildren, Amy Thompson Peterzell of Atlanta, Ga.; Alex Thompson of Athens, Ga. and Conor Elliott Bowen of Asheville, N.C. and two great-grandchildren, Zoe Evelyn Peterzell and Griffin Bowen Peterzell of Atlanta. She was a retired homemaker, and owned and operated the Western Auto hardware store in Vienna, Ga. with her husband until their retirement in 1985. She met her husband of 55 years while attending North Georgia Technical College. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m., Sunday, February 17 at Hillside Memorial Chapel in Clarkesville, Ga. Burial will follow at Clarkesville City Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1 to 3 p.m. at the chapel, and also at the Habersham County Senior Center following graveside services. Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian handled local arrangements. A memorial register is available at www.grocefuneralhome.com and also at www.hillsidememorialchapel.com.