Alice Bowers

Alice Harriet (Preston) Bowers, 90, a long-time resident of Silver Hill, Md., passed away on Sunday, March 19, 2017, surrounded by her family, at Inova Mt. Vernon Hospital in Alexandria, Va. Born in Washington, D.C. on October 1, 1926, she was the daughter of the late William H. Preston, Sr. and Mildred S. (Keith) Preston. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Edgar A. Bowers, and her siblings Stephen Preston, Frank Preston, Henrietta Preston, and Linda Ferguson. Alice was raised in High Bridge, Md. in a large and loving family. At age 16, she graduated as valedictorian of Bowie High School class of 1943, and immediately enlisted in the newly-established U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps, created during WW2 to help combat the severe nurse shortage at home and abroad. Alice served her country from 1943 to 1946, when she graduated from the Lucy Webb Hayes School of Nursing at Sibley Hospital in Washington, D.C. Alice worked for a short time in a private doctor’s practice and did home health visits before marrying her Navy sailor, Edgar, in 1947 and starting her primary call in life as a “super mom.” She was the anchor of the family, serving as chief cook, housekeeper, nurse, chauffeur, and all-around funmaker for her six lively children. She also volunteered as a tutor, Girl Scout leader, room mother at her children’s school, and election judge. In the mid-1970’s, she returned to the field of nursing as an aide at Clinton Community Hospital, later known as Parkwood Hospital. She retired in April of 1994. Alice had a love of life and a positive outlook, meeting each day with a smile and a sense of fun. She loved to travel, and took trips to Washington state, California, Hawaii and England. She especially enjoyed spending time with her well-loved 13 grandchildren. She is survived by her children Doug (Nancy) Bowers, Charles (Lillian) Bowers, William (Malva Slachowitz) Bowers, David (Patricia) Bowers, Jeanne (Timothy Walbert) Bowers, and Cynthia (Patrick) Tuck; grandchildren Chris, Tyler, Ryan, Willa, Thomas, Susanna, Jonathan, and Kristin Bowers; Kelly, Morgan and Lane Walbert; Heather and Daniel Tuck; sister, Ellen Blair, and brother, William H. Preston, Jr.; and a host of beloved nieces, nephews, and friends. Alice will be buried with her husband Edgar at Cheltenham Veterans Cemetery, Cheltenham, Md. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in her name to the Boy Scouts of America http://www.scouting.org/, the Girl Scouts of the USA http://www.girlscouts.org/, or the Silver Hill Boys and Girls Club, 5011 Abbott Drive, Temple Hills, Md. 20748. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Alice Bowers please visit our Sympathy Store.