Betty Jean Bowen

Betty Jean Griffin Bowen, 76, of San Tan Valley, Arizona passed to Heaven, Friday, May 24, 2013, at her home. An 11:00a.m. Celebration of Life graveside service will be on Thursday, May 30, 2013 in the Fort Phantom Hill Cemetery under the direction of Community Memorial Funeral Home, 1443 North 2nd Street, Abilene, Texas.

She was born Sept. 12, 1936 in Topeka, Kansas to the late Cecil and Opal Hill Griffin of Lubbock. Brought up in a farming family, she moved from Childress County to Lubbock after school and married Tommy Gene Bowen. She worked for Lerner’s Shops until 1957, when she began a career with Southwestern Bell as an operator. After divestiture, she continued with AT&T and retired in management in 1990 with 33 years perfect attendance excluding two pregnancy leaves. Betty and Tommy moved to Abilene in 1998 and were married 43 years when he preceded her in death May 21, 2000. She was a member of Oldham Lane Church of Christ before moving to Arizona in 2008.

Those left to cherish Betty’s memory are her daughters, Rebecca Bowen of San Tan Valley, Arizona and Cynthia Bowen Ice and husband David of Abilene; her sister, Barbara Griffin Allen and husband Colonel Earl Allen, USAF, Ret. of Goodyear, Arizona; her grandchildren, Thomas Ice and wife Julie, Katee Ice, Jon David Ice, and Elisabeth Ice of Abilene; and extended family.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a favorite charity or Banner Hospice, 275 E. Germann Road, Suite 110, Gilbert, Arizona 85297.