Joan Iden Bowie

Joan Iden Bowie was born May 3, 1929 in Battle Creek, Michigan. She was the daughter of Lora C. Shaffner and Clayton A. (Johnny) Iden. She grew up with one older sister, Barbara. In her teen years her maternal Grandmother, Mabel (Naanee) Shaffner came to live with the Idens. Joan lived all of her early years in Battle Creek, with the exception of three years in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1947 she graduated from Battle Creek Central High School. She then attended Western Michigan College (now University) in Kalamazoo on a full music scholarship. As a freshman she was chosen to be the lead singer in the College musical. In fact, Joan was well known as a singer all during her high school and college years. She sang at private parities, with a quartet, and with the Les Van Wagner Orchestra. She also participated in The Band Follies and in several Battle Creek Community Theatre productions. Joan had her own radio show at the age of 16 on W.E.L.L. Additionally she was the soloist at the Battle Creek and Marshall, Michigan Christian Science churches. And she did a season with the Detroit Civic Light Opera Company.

In 1947 she married Robert G. Carrigan, Jr.; they divorced in 1950; no children. During this time she sang on several W.B.C.K. radio shows while working there as a receptionist. She left Battle Creek in 1952 to join the W.C.C.O. CBS Radio & Television Station in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She was a Staff Singer there for 10 years appearing on as many as 15 shows a week. This included being featured on shows with all the visiting celebrities such as Art Linkletter, Victor Borge, the McGuire Sisters, Helen O’Connell, George (Georgie) Jessel & Jack Carter. During these same years she participated in the Minneapolis Aquatennial celebrations and the St. Paul Ice Follies. On occasion she sang as guest soloist with the Minneapolis and St. Paul Pops Symphony Orchestras. In 1954 Joan married Carl W. Bowie; they had four children; Jennifer, Karyn, Mark and Greg, and she was step Mother to Carl’s daughters, Betsy and Beverly, from a previous marriage. In 1960 she played the part of Julie in the St. Paul Civic Light Opera production of Show Boat.

In 1962 the Bowie’s moved to Fairfax, Virginia. Carl maintained an office in Washington DC, first working for the Acme Company, and later started his own contract consulting business, C.W. Bowie & Associates. Joan was a homemaker and member of the Women’s Club of Mantua (the name of the Fairfax subdivision in which they lived). She began teaching Vocal lessons in 1965 and was a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (N.A.T.S.) for many years. In 1966 she joined NBC Station WRC to sing on their show “Today in Washington” with Inga Stevens and political satirist/comedian Mark Russell. During this time Joan and Carl were part of the “Washington scene” and she sang at many private parties. For 14 years she was the Soloist at the Fairfax, Virginia Christian Science church, as well as being a loyal member of that church for 20 years.

Carl passed on in 1976 and a year later Joan moved to California and began singing with the Guy Halferty Orchestra. In the early 80s she produced and sang concerts “Joan Bowie Sings” at Orange Coast College in the Robert Moore Theatre. She also sang at the Five Crowns Restaurant for seven years as one of The Showcase Singers. She was soloist at the Newport Beach Christian Science church for 22 years. Joan started recording her sacred solos in 1982 and established her own company, J.I.B. Productions. The company later became J.I.B. Productions Publishing when she began publishing sacred music for soloists. Over the years Joan recorded six CDs which are sold nationwide. Two of them are sold at the Longyear Museum in Boston, MA, an independent historical museum dedicated to advancing the understanding of the life and work of Mary Baker Eddy, the Founder of Christian Science. In the 90s Joan published a Music Book, Family Cook Book, and a Family Anthology.

In addition to all of the above, Joan held a full time job at Ford Aerospace & Communications Corporation, a defense and space related division of the Ford Motor Company. It later became Loral Aeronutronic, then was incorporated into Lockheed Martin. Joan retired in 1996 after sixteen years with these companies. In the early 90s Joan also cared for her elderly parents who had joined her in California in 1983.

In 2001, Joan became a member of the Christian Science Church in Costa Mesa, CA and served as Soloist, First Reader, Second Reader, and Board Member. She was a member of P.E.O. Chapter QV, and the Newport Beach Book Club. She was an avid collector of Hummel Figurines, starting her collection in 1954 and has been a member of the local Hummel Chapter since 1988.

She is survived by her sister, Barbara Ferree of Battle Creek, Michigan and The Villages, Florida. Her four children; Jennifer C. DelVecchio (and husband Joseph) of West Palm Beach, FL; Karyn S. Bowie of Alexandria, VA; Mark C. Bowie of Costa Mesa, CA; Greg W. Bowie (and wife Sandra) of La Mirada, CA; her step daughters Elizabeth (Betsy) J. Singer (and husband Michael) of Davis, CA; Beverly A. Sutherland (and husband Oscar) of Pine City, MN; along with 12 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.