Elizabeth Bowling

“Lib” Elizabeth Kimpleton Bowling passed away peacefully at 7:30 p.m., November 28, 2016, at Roman Eagle Health and Rehabilitation Center, where she had been a resident for the past two and a half years. She was 93.    She is survived by her son Jay Watkins, her beloved sister Betty Baker of Stratford House, niece Robyn Wells and nephew Chris Baker, all of Danville.   Her son Terry Lava Watkins passed away in December, 2014, and her husband, Basil D. Bowling in April, 1995.    She is also survived by in-laws Clarence and Jeanette Bowling of Eden, NC, and their wonderful, caring family, her brother-in-law Jack Hottle of Danville, niece Kelly Jo Kimpleton and family of High Point, NC, and nephew Robert Swanson Kimpleton, III, and family, of Guadalajara, Mexico.    Elizabeth, always known as “Lib,” was born in Danville, on April 27, 1923, to Robert Swanson and “Mattie” Martha Olive (nee, Maxie) Kimpleton of Schoolfield. She was their second child. She had three sisters and one brother: Rachel Estelle, (b, 1922), “Bob” Robert Swanson, Jr. (b, 1925), Constance Juanita (b. 1926) – all now deceased -- and the aforementioned Betty Jean (b. 1933).    Lib graduated from the old Schoolfield High School and afterward took various adult education courses as they became available in those days.    In 1941 when she was 18 years old, Lib married Pete Watkins of Danville and gave birth to her first child, Jay, in Nov., 1943. Her second son, Terry, arrived eleven months later, in Oct., 1944. Seven months premature, Terry was born with multiple, severe intellectual and physical disabilities that required 24-hours-a-day care his entire life. He lived to be 70.    His welfare became Lib‘s primary mission and it set her on a course of activism on his behalf and for others with those challenges. In the late 1940s and early ‘50s there were no organized or mandated educational and social resources for children with mental retardation in Danville.    To bring about a change, she joined a small group of other parents in this situation including Rev. Richard Smith of Forest Lawn Baptist Church, Lucille and Clarence “Bubba” Barker of Bubba’s Ice Cream Drive-In, and Ellie and Richard Ridgeway. Lib became the group’s first secretary.    Until the Richard E. Smith School for Retarded Children got underway with Ellie Ridgeway as its teacher, Lib sent Terry to Sarah Ferguson’s Kindergarten until he was 12 years old and twice the height of his five-year-old classmates.    For over 60 years, Lib remained actively involved in the Danville Association for Retarded Citizens and saw it grow into the Hatcher Center, the M.T. Sorrell Home, and White Oak School.            In 1961, Lib married Basil D. “Blackie” Bowling, a career Navy MP,   and they remained married until his death in 1995. After retiring from Dan River Mills in the early 1980s, she was able to take care of Terry full-time.    She and Blackie became active members of Glen Oaks Golf Club. She was not a golfer, but she was an avid bridge player and enjoyed Club dances, swimming and social events. She read every book she could get hold of.    Lib, Blackie and Terry attended Stokesland Baptist Church for over 35 years and participated in its many social and religious activities. She cherished her new husband, her two sons, her family and many friends, and God.    After Terry moved into the group home on the Hatcher Center Campus in 2000, Lib became a resident at Holiday Village. During her 14 years there, she joined the Fun Club, attended Tuesday chapel, and loved her many new friends.    Over the past ten years, Lib experienced more and more symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, plus she was no longer able to walk. Jay was happy that Roman Eagle Health and Rehabilitation Center in Danville offered an array of social programs and detailed professional nursing procedures that enabled his mother to live safely and comfortably for the next two and a half years.    On that note, Lib’s family is indebted to all Roman Eagle nurses and the many activities and support staff who took such good care of her. Their kindness and gentleness with her was extraordinary. In particular, Jay thanks both Drs. Sabitha and Kiran Vasireddy and their office staff who provided medical services for her during the past 10 years. An angel in the form of Charlotte Wooding helped Jay provide Lib with as much personal attention as possible during her nursing home stay.    Lib’s family members are saddened by her physical absence this Christmas. But, Heaven?  Well, it’s already rockin’.    Visitation and viewing will take place, Monday, Dec. 5, 2016, between 2 and 3 p.m. at Townes Funeral Home, 215 West Main Street, Danville.    A Memorial service has been rescheduled for Monday, Dec. 12, 11 a.m., at Schoolfield Baptist Church, Schoolfield Drive, Danville, with the Reverend David R. Turbyfill officiating. A reception in the Church’s social hall will immediately follow.    In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation (alzfdn.org), Danville ARC (Association for Retarded Citizens) – Southside, 734 Main Street, Schoolfield Baptist Church, or a charity of choice.    Townes Funeral Home and Crematory, 215 West Main Street, is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at www.townesfuneralhome.com