Ruth Elizabeth Bowman Bolick

Ruth Elizabeth Bowman Bolick, of Hickory, 80 years young, went home to be with her Lord on Friday, January 4, 2013 at Frye Regional Medical Center in Hickory NC, following a lengthy courageous battle with ovarian cancer.

Ruth was born in Caldwell County on May 18, 1932, the oldest daughter of Fred Douglas Bowman and Eula Mae Austin Bowman. She married Howard James Bolick on October 4, 1952 and together they experienced sixty wonderful years of married life with family and friends.

Ruth was a special woman to all whose path she touched with a strong faith and positive outlook. Always doing things for others, she demonstrated her love for God, her family, her friends and her community. She was a very active member of Mount Bethel United Methodist Church in the Bethlehem community as well as the United Methodist Women’s ministry. Ruth was very community oriented and loved supporting such civic organizations as the Bethlehem Ruritans where she prepared breakfast meals for many years.

In addition to her parents, Ruth was preceded in death by her oldest brother, Ned Lawson Bowman; nephew, Mark Leland Bowman; father-in-law, James Cicero Bolick; and mother-in-law, Zula Mae McKinney Bolick.

Those left to cherish her memory include her husband, Howard James (Shorty) Bolick; sons, Anthony James Bolick and companion, Vicki Brown Smith of Cartersville, GA; Phillip Howard Bolick, and Rodney Douglas Bolick and wife Janet Coonse Bolick of Taylorsville; grandchildren, Andrew Jordan Bolick and wife Candace Jones Bolick and “the most beloved grandson”, Nathan Douglas Bolick of Taylorsville; and godson, Bryan Chamberlain of Raleigh; sister-in-law, Mildred D. Bowman of Taylorville; sisters, Barbara Ann Sipe and husband Wayne of Hickory, Delma Jean Martin and husband Terry of Lenoir, and Alice Elaine Whisnant and husband James of Granite Falls; brothers, Douglas Terry Bowman and companion, Gilda Lowman of Hickory, and Jerry Wayne Bowman and wife Sandie of Taylorsville; 12 nephews; 2 nieces; and numerous great nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 p.m., on Tuesday, January 8, 2013, at Mount Bethel United Methodist Church in the Bethlehem community, with the Rev. Stephen Johnson officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends, Monday, January 7, 2013 from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Drum Funeral Home in Hickory.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Mount Bethel United Methodist Church Building Fund, 9042 NC 127 Hwy N, Hickory, NC 28601