Ethel Ryman Bowers

Ethel Irene Ryman Bowers, 86, of Woodstock left this world to enter the joy of her Lord on May 3, 2014 at Winchester Medical Center. The family will receive friends Thursday from 6-8 p.m. at Valley Pike Church of the Brethren. A Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday at 11:00 at Valley Pike Church of the Brethren with Reverend Jonathan Fletcher officiating. Burial will be private in the church cemetery. She was born May 7, 1927 in Woodstock, to Sudie and Eddie Ryman, she would say, ""I was a surprise. They had already put the baby cradle away in the wash house!"" Growing up at the house on the river she walked to the one-room school house on Ridgeley Road. Ethel loved to worship the Lord from a young girl and walked to Valley Pike Church on Sundays. On March 27, 1946 she married Alfred Bowers. They enjoyed 68 years together serving the Lord at Valley Pike Church visiting and helping the needy and their family and friends. They were blessed with two sons. Ethel-Mom, Maw-maw, Grandma Ethel- lived her busy life gardening-Ah! those muskmelons-preserving and preparing wonderful food-meatloaf, noodles, pies and black raspberry jelly made the old-time way. Fellowship times included playing dominos. She could play the autoharp and sang on a Sunday Morning radio program. Many years of service were shared with the Valley Pike Tuesday Women's sewing group. She quilted many quilts wrapping others in the warmth of her love. Other ways of service at church includes choir, song leader, deacon and serving Love Feast. Babies at Valley Pike were lovingly cared for by Ethel in the Sunday School Crib Room. She especially loved the years she cared for all her grandchildren in that room on Sunday mornings. ""Her worth is far above rubies."" Prov. 31:10 Ethel was preceded in death by her parents, sister Eva Cline, brother John Ryman and son Larry Bowers. Surviving with her husband are daughter-in-law Ellen Bowers, son Wayne Bowers and wife Debbie; five grandchildren, Jason Bowers, Connie Morris and husband Matt, Adam Bowers and wife Megan, Aaron Bowers and wife Jessica and Alan Bowers; her much loved four great grandchildren, Trevor and Dakota Morris and Abby and Payton Bowers. Honorary pallbearers will be Ford Dysart, Dean Fadely, Guy Gochenour, Kenneth Hamrick, Wesley Stinson and Zip Zimmerman. Attending as a group will be Adult Sunday School Class of Valley Pike Church. The remembrances shared here are small compared to what those who knew and loved Ethel could say of her. She will be hugely missed by many especially her family. ""â€¦â€¦a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised."" Prov.31:30

Ethel Ryman Bowers

May 5, 2014