Alice Arlene Bowker Canter

Alice Arlene Bowker Canter Jun. 8, 1924 - Mar. 19, 2014 NORTH WILKESBORO, NC. - Alice Arlene Bowker Canter, 89 died Wednesday, March 19, 2014 at Wilkes Regional Medical Center. She was born June 8, 1924 in Norwich, the last surviving of three children to John W. and Lena Gamlin Bowker. In addition to her parents, her brother John W. Bowker and her sister, Ruth Winski she was predeceased in death by her loving husband of 42 years, Richard Doyle Canter, USN retired. Alice was a 1945 graduate from Backus Hospital Nursing School and remained a licensed RN through her sixties. Alice always enjoyed meeting people and every stranger became a friend. She had such energy and love of life that was conveyed to all that met her. She shared her smile and her wit with everyone she met and it always included the Irish greeting 'Top of the day to you.' in the appropriate Irish brogue. Alice was a member of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church. She is survived by her five children, Jack Canter and his wife Elaine of Charleston, SC, George Canter and his wife Sue from High Point, NC, Susan Sturgill and her husband Claude from Wilkesboro, NC, Michael Canter from Boomer, NC and Sally Swanson and her husband Tommy from Hickory, NC; also surviving nine grandchildren, Shannon Jones, Joshua Canter, Jason Anderson, Jennifer Hefner, Dana Gahagan, Shawn Shepherd, Jonah Canter, Amanda Canter, Steven Canter; nine great grandchildren, Coleman Jones, Jessica Hefner, Derrick Hefner, Hannah Jones, Zoe Gahagan, Levi Anderson, Caleb Shepherd, David Gahagan, Wyatt Canter and two more great grandchildren expected in the Fall. Funeral services will be held 2:00, Saturday, March 22, 2014 at Reins-Sturdivant Chapel in North Wilkesboro, NC with Pastor Kevin Brown officiating. Burial will be in Lewis Fork Baptist Church Cemetery in Purlear, NC. The family will receive at Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home from 12:30 until 1:30 prior to the service. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Wilkes Pregnancy Care Center, 1224 School Street, Wilkesboro, NC 28697. Online condolences may be made at www.reinssturdivant.com.