Rowena Boland Foster

Rowena Boland Foster, 96, passed away on September 5, 2017 at Orchard Pointe in Surprise, Arizona. She was born in Clayton, Oklahoma on September 21, 1920 to teacher Floy Davenport and husband Thomas Boland, lumber business owner. Rowena left two daughters: Camille Booker Behrens (John), who recently died on September 24, 2017 in Tucson; and Rowena Pinkney Foster of Wickenburg, AZ. She also raised three stepchildren: Claire Bernardini (Sandro), Tad Foster (Debra), and Taren Hamilton of California. Her parents and three beloved brothers, John Craig Boland, Perry Boland, and Pickens Boland, preceded her in death.

Rowena enjoyed a colorful career as a highly-respected interior designer and decorator in the San Francisco Bay Area. She was invited to join the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) during the 1970's and won the prestigious International Burlington Award. Her beautiful work spanned residences, offices, and even ships, including a new pilot boat for the San Francisco Bar Pilot Association in the early 1970's. She loved to work with color and light in paint and upholstery. Her popular mixture of a soft white became "Whisper White" at Dunn Edwards Paint Company. Interior decorating was her passionate career for over sixty years.

The daughter of a wonderful teacher, Rowena continued her education in the late 1930's at Chillicothe Business College in Missouri, then headed back south and worked as a legal secretary in Texas. While married to Howard Booker, she was blessed with her first daughter, Camille.

Rowena loved working in the resort business for many years, becoming a talented photographer. She carried the 4x5" Speed Graphic camera everywhere while at Bishop's Lodge, Santa Fe, New Mexico; Camelback Inn, Scottsdale, Arizona; and at Smoke Tree Ranch, Palm Springs, California. What great stories she shared of her antics photographing U.S. Presidential figures, movie stars and other prominent figures of that era!

September 1954, she moved to the San Francisco Bay Area to marry Wilson Foster, the love of her life. Daughter, Rowena Pinkney, was born in October 1955. Another son, Wilson, was born in 1957, but died shortly after birth. Together, they raised five wonderful children: Camille, Taren, Tad, Claire, and Pinkney.

Rowena's laughter and spirit will be dearly missed. As announced in September, a Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, November 12, 2017 at 3:00 P.M. in the courtyard at Orchard Pointe, 15048 W. Young Street, Surprise, Arizona. It will now be for Rowena and Camille. Please direct contributions for Rowena to the American Heart Association, and for Camille to Guide Dogs for the Blind or to The American Cancer Society.