Rowena Elizabeth Wilson

She was born in Oxford, England on August 24 1941, the eldest child of David Tudor Owen and Elizabeth (Betty) Clare Fisher. Rowena graduated from Aston Technical College in Birmingham, England, having studied Applied Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry. In 1964 she traveled to the United States in pursuit of work in medical research. She married James H Bray on June 21 1969, a union which continued until 1990, and they had two sons. In 1993 she found love again and married Richard C Wilson on June 25, a union of 27 years. Rowena had a fulfilling career as a medical laboratory technician working at the Center for Infertility and Reproductive Medicine until her retirement, helping families achieve the dream of children. She had a passion for knitting, crocheting, and sewing. She also had a keen interest in gardening, volunteered as a docent at Harry P Leu Gardens, and enjoyed cultivating many plants of her own in her greenhouse, especially orchids. She was an avid genealogist, researching lineages on all sides of her family. With Richard as her partner, she traveled the world and was a longtime member of Whirl and Twirl, a square- and round-dance club, for which she also volunteered her time as President of the Board. She is survived by her husband Richard Wilson, her son Michael and his spouse, her son Christopher and his spouse, and was beloved Granny to Jack, Miranda, Owen, Hadley, and Eileen. Her brothers Roger, David, and John preceded her in death. She is further survived by her step-mother Eugenie, and siblings Bronwen, Sara, Richard, and Robert. She had a love for dogs and often opened her heart to several that were in need of a new home.