Mabel Teresa Bowlden

Mabel Teresa Bowlden was born to Paul Henry and Theresa Barbara on September 19, 1925, in her family home in Windthorst, Texas. She attended St. Mary's School, graduating in 1942. She moved to Dallas to attend St. Paul's Nursing School, graduating in 1945. She married H.C. Bowlden after graduating and had three children: James Frederick, Sherry Teresa and Deborah Lynn Bowlden.

Her nursing career lasted for fifty years, beginning at Doctors' Hospital, not retiring until 2014. She was the charge nurse for orthopedics. During her long tenure, she gained many friends in the nursing community: Ann McGuffy, Ida Wright, Phoebe Silvy, Jane Wright, and Carol Prandy. Mother wanted nurses to celebrate Christmas Day with their family, so our family celebration was on Christmas Eve. She worked on Christmas Day, then would help in the neighborhood with health issues. In her eighties, she worked for Dr. William Burnette and his wife Judy. They often visited her at the Villages of Lake Highlands.

For many years, the family would come together at her house for Christmas Eve celebrations and Easter egg hunts in the backyard. She enjoyed taking vacations with her nurse friends. Often, we went to Windthorst for Thanksgiving and Easter to celebrate with Grandma Himmels and Mother's sisters' family. As adults, we continued to celebrate Thanksgiving with her sisters and our cousins. Ann and Annette have been a great help in bringing Mother home to Windthorst - thank you for your help and love.

In 1989, I had a major car accident, where my 20 month old son, Mason, suffered from a head injury. I was not injured. It all happened at 3:45 in the afternoon and by 6, she had driven to Love Field! She and I stayed with Mason in the ICU, with her recording vitals and talking with the doctors, until he was released, thirteen days later.

She fell in 2021, which prompted Fred, Deb, John, and I to start taking turns, staying with her, since she wanted to live in her home. We all took our days to spend critical time, helping with meals and appointments, but she was independent for many hours of the day.

On March 27, 2025, she fell in the bathroom and hit her head, causing a small brain bleed. After a week in Baylor Hospital, she was released to the Villages of Lake Highlands. On May 20, Mother was taken to White Rock Medical Center, admitted with dehydration and pneumonia. On May 23, she was moved back to the Villages, with hospice care. Friends, Phoebe, Jane, and Lori visited, with Mother being conscious and able to enjoy her time with her friends. At 2 in the afternoon, her sisters, Ann, Annette, Jean and Kenny, visited Mother. Later Debbie, Karen and Bobby visited. On Saturday, May 24, mother passed peacefully at 4:38 pm, with Debbie and I by her side, less than 24 hours out of the hospital.

Mother is survived by: Fred and Sarah Bowlden, John; Karen and Rusty and children: Emma and Matthew; Jackie and children: Alyssa, Payton, and Colton; Sherry and Danny Kirchner:Casey and Mason; Debbie and Michael Lawson: Dawn and Tyler Dady and children Ethan and Myles. Her loving sisters, Ann Vitenhermer and Annette Flietmas - as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, neighbors and friends.

Most of all, Mother was a mother, grandmother and friend to those around her; gentle, kind, honest and loving to those who knew her. We will dearly miss her gentle spirit.

A chapel service for Mabel will be held Wednesday, June 11, 2025 at 2:00 PM, followed by a catered reception at 3:00 PM.