Barbara June Dow

TRAVERSE CITY — Barbara June Dow, 88, of Inland Township, passed away at Munson Hospice House in Traverse City Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2008, with her children by her side. She was born June 18, 1920, in Albion, to Paul E. and Helen C. Thompson.

On Oct. 26, 1940, Barbara married Charles "Ed" Dow; he preceded her in death Jan. 29, 2007.

Barbara and Ed moved to Inland Township in the spring of 1946 and purchased a gas station, motel, grocery store and restaurant that they named Ed's Place. They sold the business 21 years later, and built a home beside the motel. Barbara was also the supervisor in the township for several years. In 1984, they bought a home in Matlacha, Fla., so they could spend their winters in a warmer climate.

Barbara is survived by her two children, Tom and Melinda Dow of Newport News, Va., and Judy Aeschliman of Traverse City; one sister, Pauline VandeBunt of Montrose; and three sisters-in-law, Genevieve Michalik, Merle Dow and Jane Thompson, all of Flint. Also surviving is one aunt, Kathryn Barnum of Traverse City; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Barbara had a ex-son-in-law, Sonny Aeschliman, and an ex-daughter-in-law, Roberta Dow, whom she loved and cherished as her own, along with three "adopted kids," Gail Porter, Ken Flath and Ellen Kracht.

In addition to her parents and husband, Barbara was preceded in death by her two brothers, David (George) and Chuck Thompson.

A celebration of Barbara's life will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008, at the Bennett-Barz Funeral Home on U.S. 31 in Beulah. The family will receive friends from noon until time of services at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association or to the Munson Hospice House.

Bennett-Barz Funeral Home, Harris-Sheffler Chapel has been entrusted with the arrangements.

This obituary was originally published in the Record-Eagle.