Marjorie Grace Bowman Allen

She was preceded in death by her parents, Grace Todd and Charles Luther Bowman Jr.; little brother, Charles Luther Bowman III; and husband of 50 years, Paul Wiatt Allen. Left to cherish her memory are her children, Marjorie Byrd Allen, Paula Todd Allen (Geoff Perkins), Lucile Kendall Allen (Andrew Lee); and grandchildren, Eliza Byrd Allen Lee and Julia Rose Allen Lee.

She was a trailblazer. An early career woman, she was a draftsman with the Virginia Department of Transportation, the sole woman in a field of men. Family trips were punctuated with announcements of going over one of “her” bridges.

She never met a stranger. A chance encounter could lead to a lifelong friendship, kept alive by her gift for letter writing. Her beautifully penned notes let you know you were never far from her thoughts.

She was an artist and musician. She loved the piano from an early age and had a beautiful soprano voice. As a student at William and Mary, she sang as a soloist at Bruton Parish Church and played piano in a local club for spending money. She was also gifted at sketching and painting. She especially loved to do portraits, to try to capture the personality of the subject.

She was an avid gardener and nature lover. Anything she put in the ground would grow. She cherished her work with the floral department at Colonial Williamsburg, especially at Christmastime. Her yard was a designated nature sanctuary. House wrens were her particular favorite, and she pampered them accordingly.

She was fun. As a child she was told she “sparkled” and she always kept a childlike zest for life. Every gift was a delight and every visit a party, especially if there was ice cream. She was always looking forward to the next adventure.

Above all, she was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She and her husband, Paul, celebrated their 50th anniversary before he left us. She put her heart and soul into motherhood, and her grandchildren were the light of her life. She will be missed.

She was laid to rest in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond in a private ceremony on December 30, 2021. A memorial celebration will be held at 2:00 on April 23rd at Queens Lake Club in Williamsburg. Please contact the family if you plan to attend.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The National Wildlife Federation at National Wildlife Federation (nwf.org). And don’t forget to send a note to a friend from time to time.