Valerie Bowden

Valerie Anne Emily Bowden, born on January 29, 1933, was the youngest of seven children born to Herbert and Eva Luxford of Weybridge, Surrey, England. She married Malcolm Bowden in 1954, bore two daughters: Christine Cowart of Atlanta, Ga. and Jane Diamantis of McDonald, Tenn., and emigrated with her husband to Atlanta in 1966. She served as Vice-Consul in the British Consulate General in Atlanta until 1991. She was an early member of the Daughters of the British Empire in Atlanta, a charitable organization supporting retirement homes. In that capacity, she served variously as Board Member, Treasurer and State President in Georgia for many years before moving to Tennessee in 2007. She was deeply loved by her extended family of children Christine and Jane, sons-in-law George Diamantis and Merritt Cowart, grandchildren Philip, Irene, her husband Brett Blanchard, and rejoiced in the appearance of two great-grandchildren, Gavin and Hudson in this her Diamond Wedding Year. She was an inspiration to us all but now lives on in our memories, having been taken from us by heart failure on Monday, May 5th 2014. May she rest in peace. In lieu of flowers please send contributions to your favorite charity. Memorial service will be held at Saint Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church, 7555 Ooltewah Georgetown Road, Ooltewah, Tenn., (423-238-7708), following the 10:00 a.m. service today May 11th, 2014.