Sheila Qualls Bowman

In 1962, Sheila Ann Qualls married Henry Frederick Eugene Bowman.

Sheila and Henry had two sons: Robert Drew Bowman, and Patrick Lee Bowman.

After a short stint at Russell Stained Glass Studio in Winston-Salem where she developed skills in stained glass craftsmanship and restoration, Sheila built a long career in the telecommunications and defense industries with Western Electric in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. As the Bell System evolved, she continued with the same organization through its corporate transitions to AT&T Technologies to Lucent Technologies and a final acquisition by General Dynamics. Her work supported U.S. Navy undersea surveillance programs, including the SOSUS project.

As a hobby and side business, Sheila enjoyed buying and selling antiques, spending countless hours searching for antique furniture, dolls, jewelry, and other interesting finds.

Sheila also had a lifelong love of cats. Throughout her adult life there was almost always at least one beloved cat in her home, and caring for them was one of her greatest pleasures.

After retiring, Sheila devoted much of her time to serving the Greensboro community by helping immigrants adapt to life in the United States. She provided practical assistance, encouragement, and friendship, helping newcomers become established and feel welcome in their new community. She also enjoyed gardening to provide flowers and fresh food to her neighbors.

Throughout her life, Sheila approached every endeavor with intelligence, curiosity, generosity, and dedication. Her legacy lives on through her family, friends, and the many lives she touched.

Sheila passed on July 3rd 2026 from injuries suffered in an auto accident on June 24 2026.

Sheila’s life will be remembered by her brother Robert Qualls and wife Kathleen of Albuquerque, New Mexico; son Robert Bowman and wife Gudrun of Leesburg, VA; grandchildren Carolynne Sabine Lefebvre and husband Eric, John Patrick Henry Bowman, and Marta-Ann Elsbeth Bowman; great grandchildren Donovan Robert Raymond Lefebvre, Declan Lukas Lefebvre; many relatives in Piedmont of North Carolina, and her neighbors.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Hanes-Lineberry Funeral Home Sedgefield Chapel, 6000 West Gate City Boulevard, Greensboro, NC.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to:

(Feral Cat Assistance Program): https://www.feralcatassistanceprogram.org/donate

(UNCG - The Center for New North Carolinians Fund): https://www.alumni.uncg.edu/s/1659/index.aspx?sid=1659&gid=2&pgid=488&cid=1280&appealcode=RE-WEB&SOLORG=RE&SOLSOURCE=WEB&dids=718.553&sort=1&bledit=1

New Arrivals Institute: https://newarrivalsinstitute.org/donation-information