Rosalind Bodie Bowling

Rosalind Bodie Bowling (1927-2024) - Born August 18, 1927 in the parsonage of Pine Grove Lutheran Church at the crossroads community of Lone Star, S.C. Rosalind was the middle of three girls of the Rev. Earl K. and Annie Belle Dantzler Bodie. The family later moved to Wilmington, N.C. where her father was to oversee the building of a new St. James Lutheran Church. She spoke and wrote fondly of Wilmington, especially of the pavilion at Wrightsville Beach where all traveled by trolley car across the waterway to the island. Alas, the depression hit, and her father was unable to accomplish the building at that time. Rosalind and her family moved with her father’s callings as a minister graduating from Kannapolis High School, then on to a degree in education from Lenior Rhyne College in 1949.

During her second teaching position in Durham, she became more acquainted with her future husband, Lewis L. Bowling Jr., through church functions. They later married in Gibsonville by her father and settled in Durham, N.C. After the birth of two sons, Alan and Earl, they moved to Raleigh due to her husband’s position where their daughter Angela was born.

Rosalind taught the youngest at Longview Methodist Church preschool for six years after which she was coerced back into the public schools where she completed a long tenure teaching kindergarten at Francis Lacy Elementary. During that time, she nurtured many students “starting them off with the best skills to be successful in school and life”. In her later career there, her teaching skills were followed by IBM representatives as an example of what kindergarteners needed to be taught to formulate the “Writing to Read” early software program. Under her tutelage, no child went without her attention and encouragement. Along the journey, she also acted as the Pre-School director of Sunday school at the family’s Holy Trinity Lutheran Church for 20 years.

Upon her parents’ passing, she and Lewis moved to Elon, N.C., to her parents’ retirement home. When widowed, Rosalind returned to Raleigh to the Cypress retirement community where she enjoyed all activities and wonderful friends till her passing Easter weekend of 2024. It was said recently of Rosalind: "She was a handsome Southern woman with impeccable manners and that impossible to define confidence". The family would like to thank all at The Cypress, Rosewood, Rex Hospital and all her friends past and present for their care and camaraderie.

She was a lover of the arts ; drama, artwork, writings, music....and flowers; growing plants,making arrangements, delivering to shut ins.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lewis L. Bowling Jr. and sister, Geraldine Bodie.

She is survived by a sister, Dr. Jacqueline Parsavand and husband Dr. Reza Parsavand of Las Vegas, N.V., son Alan Bowling of Raleigh, Dr. J. Earl Bowling (Beverly) of Laurinburg, daughter Angela B. Suggs (Greg) of Raleigh; six grandchildren and two great grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

A private graveside service will be held at Maplewood Cemetery in Durham with a memorial service scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 16 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Raleigh. Memorials may be sent to the church or a charity of your choice.

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