Mildred Knight Bowen

COLUMBIA Mildred Knight Bowen, 89, passed away on December 18, 2014. Born in Chicago, Illinois on October 14, 1925, she was a daughter of the late Charles Martin Knight and Marie Durizzi Knight. She is survived by her devoted husband of 68 years, Col. Ralph E. Bowen, USMC; her son, Randall K. Bowen, daughter-in-law, Meredith Duncan Bowen; grandchildren, Randall Evan Bowen, Lindsay Duncan Bowen, and Alexandra Paige Bowen, all of Fairfax, Virginia; son-in-law, James F. Page of Columbia; and granddaughter, Ashley Knight Page of Arlington, Virginia. Millie was graduated from Northwestern University in 1947, which awarded her a Bachelor's degree in Speech and Dramatics. While attending Northwestern, she was president of the Debate Team and a cheerleader. She was active in the Alpha Omega Pi sorority. She met and married her husband Ralph while at Northwestern. During World War II, Millie sang for American troops with the USO. After graduating, Millie lived in many different states, including Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, and California, as the Marine Corps transferred her husband around the country. Millie acted and sang frequently during her life, including with a theatre group in Miami, Florida during 1953 when her husband was stationed in the area. Millie also sang for several Defense Department events, including the Defense Secretary's conferences of 1958 and 1959. After Ralph retired from the Marine Corps, the family moved back to Miami in 1969. While in Miami, Millie became a realtor and sold many homes in a brokerage she operated with her husband. After selling the brokerage in 1993, Millie and Ralph moved to Columbia. She actively participated in the PEOs, and both Millie and Ralph have been members of Northeast Presbyterian Church. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, January 17, 2015, at Northeast Presbyterian Church, 601 Polo Road, Columbia, South Carolina 29223. The family will receive friends from 12:00 noon until 1:00 p.m. at the church prior to the service. Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family.