PHYLLIS BOWSER

PHYLLIS BOWSER March 17, 1929 - August 20, 2012. Beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, nurse, grandmother, gardener died at home in the company of family. Phyllis arrived in Barstow late in the winter of 1955; it was the end of a solo car trip from her Pennsylvania home to join her husband, who was stationed at Ft. Irwin. But it was the beginning of another journey that would touch the lives of many. Phyllis Marie Freeman was born and raised in Brownsville, PA and graduated from Redstone HS. She completed her primary nursing training at Brownsville Hospital, followed by training rotations at the state hospital in Allentown and Philadelphia Childrens. She married Clifton Bowser in June, 1951 and subsequent to his being drafted into the army, lived in Ft. Knox, KY, eventually moving to Barstow. Upon arriving in Barstow, she first found employment at the old Barstow Hospital with Dr. Wilkes. Her nursing career saw the introduction of polio vaccine which she worked with San Bernardino County to vaccinate hundreds of people; and also conducted screening for tuberculosis among the at-risk populations in the Barstow area. She started working with Barstow Union School District in 1957 while completing her B.A. degree at Cal State Los Angeles. As high school nurse for the next 25 years, her fondest accomplishments were the students she mentored, many graduation ceremonies and a few proms she coordinated. She also served as faculty advisor for Future Medics and Candy Stripers clubs. From 1981 to 2002, she served as school nurse for several elementary schools in BUSD, retiring in 2002 after 45 years. She loved spoiling her Irish setter, Red, and enjoyed travelling, with occasional trips to her relatives in Pennsylvania, and frequent trips in the family camper throughout the west and Baja. Gardening was a big passion and the flowers and lily ponds at her home that she lived in since 1962 provided countless hours of enjoyment. She will be sorely missed by her husband of 61 years, Clifton; her daughter Holly and husband Alvaro; son Walter and wife Mary, two grandchildren, Morgan and Matthew; and her sister Irma and husband Wilbur. A private ceremony is planned. Suggested charities for anyone wishing to make donations are the Boy Scouts, Hinkley School (BUSD) Science department, and Desert Aquatics Swim team.