Elizabeth Bowie

After a childhood in Northern Ireland and Scotland, Phyl graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1952 with an honors degree in Botany and then qualified as a teacher. She married Neil J B Bowie in 1959 and they immigrated to the US with their three children in 1964. In her late 30’s, she began a PhD in Anatomy at Glasgow University, which she completed in 1972 at the UT health Science Center in San Antonio, as the first woman to earn a PhD from that institution. A few weeks later, she gave birth to her fourth child.

From 1969 until 2003, she worked at the UT Health Science Center as a research scientist and anatomy instructor, eventually becoming the Dental Gross Anatomy course director. She taught a range of students from dental hygienists to senior medical students, earning numerous teaching awards including the Presidential Teaching Excellence Award. While talented students were a joy to teach, she was equally committed to those who required additional support. On retirement, she and her husband established the Phyllis and Neil Bowie Student Community Service Award.

Outside of work, she had roles as a charter member and chair of the San Antonio Committee for Children and Family and chair of the Mayor’s Commission of the Status of Women. A devout Catholic, she was a member of Saint Mathew’s Catholic Church.

Phyl accomplished a great deal in her life. Her husband Neil, to whom she was married for 60 years, valued her as his equal and supported her professional aspirations. Her extended family, in particular her mother Gertrude and Aunt Phena, were also a source of support. She found joy in finding a bargain, a cup of tea and talking about local and international politics.

She is survived by four children; Seán, Neil, Mhairi, Liz and their spouses/partners; eight grandchildren: Neil, Roderic, Iain, Aidan, Malcom, Liam, Calum, and Isla; and great grandson Abraham, In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to https://www.doctorswithoutborder.org Mass will be held at St. Joseph’s Chapel at Incarnate Word on June 05, 2023 at 11:30 am. The family would like to thank the staff of Angelique at the Villages of Incarnate Word for their care and compassion during Phyl’s final 20 months with them.