Caleb Nathaniel Stowe

Caleb Nathaniel Stowe died on Monday, August 19th in Charlottesville, Virginia at the age of 92 years old. Caleb was survived by his wife, Helen Lynnwood Stowe (Lynn), their four daughters (Susan Stowe Reppert, Lili Lynette Beninate, Helene Stowe Szarmach, and Mary Cale Angelelli), four sons-in-laws, twelve grandchildren and their spouses, and 10 great grandchildren. In total Caleb is leaving 39 family members behind to remember and celebrate his life.

Caleb was born in 1932 in Buckingham County as the second youngest child in a family of 9 children to the Reverend William Thomas Stowe and his wife, Bertha Mae Stowe. Caleb learned to be a hard worker growing up on a farm in Buckingham County, Virginia. Caleb's parents built and ran a pentecostal church, owned a timber mill, and farmed fruits and vegetables to supply local grocers. Caleb learned to appreciate the scriptures and good gospel music from going to church on Sundays. He learned to value physical labor and the qualities of different types of wood in the mill. On the farm, Caleb gained a deep appreciation for animals and the gifts of each season. He loved horses and dogs, wildlife, hunting, and planting and harvesting crops. Caleb enjoyed school especially lessons in history and poetry.

After graduating from high school Caleb worked at Lynchburg National Bank. By the time he was 23 years old he was vice president of the bank. At 24 years old Caleb moved to Charlottesville with his wife and two young daughters to attend the University of Virginia. To provide for his family, Caleb built several houses and sold them while attending the McIntire School of Commerce at UVA. This was the beginning of a career as a realtor, broker, and builder.

Caleb owned and operated Caleb Stowe and Associates, a local real estate company, for many years. He developed residential communities and commercial properties within Amherst County and Albemarle County. Caleb was instrumental in the construction of Lynnwood Subdivision, Lewis Hills subdivision, Braeburn Horse Training Center, and Berkmar Drive. Caleb served as the president of the Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors. He was awarded Realtor Emeritus for maintaining an active real estate license for over forty-five years. Caleb was an avid supporter of The University of Virginia Student Aid Foundation and a member of University of Virginia Lawn Society. He was a huge fan of UVA football and basketball his entire adult life and was proud to be a Virginia cavalier!

Caleb had passion for restoring old homes, and estates. In the 1980's Caleb purchased the unoccupied and run down 'Ednam house' which had been referred to as a 'baron's castle' in a 1906 newspaper shortly after it was built. The house and surrounding property located near the Boar's Head Inn, Ednam Forest, Birdwood, and Farmington were in desperate need of a new purpose. Caleb envisioned bringing the house back to life with extensive renovations and building a retirement community with custom built homes, townhomes, and condominiums around it. Today the Ednam neighborhood is established and thriving, and the Ednam house still boasts of beauty and grandeur thanks to Caleb's initial investment and time. Caleb also restored other grand and historical homes in the Charlottesville area, including the Stillwater house and property, which was sold and transformed into Blandemar Farm Estates.

When Caleb was in seventh grade a girl with a green sweater and large watch on her wrist sat in front of him in class. He was compelled everyday to tap her on the shoulder and ask her the time. Caleb found out that his brother liked the girl, so he swooped in and asked her to a basketball game. Caleb and Lynn became inseparable and dated throughout high school. They were great dancers in high school and even won a dance contest to 'In the Mood' by Glen Miller. Caleb and Lynn were voted Romeo and Juliette of their Senior class and were married after high school graduation. Out of all his accomplishments, Caleb was most proud of his marriage to Lynn. On June 23, 2024, Caleb and Lynn celebrated their 74th wedding Anniversary. Caleb told his daughters before he died to 'take care of their mother' when he was gone.

Caleb loved making big breakfasts for loved ones. The bacon, eggs, coffee, and fruit along with an enthusiastic 'hey buddy' pulled visitors around the kitchen table for lengthy morning talks. Caleb was a vivid storyteller with a distinct Virginian accent and bright green twinkling eyes. Conversations often included his favorite poems and scriptures which are now ingrained on the minds of loved ones. The poems 'The Road Less Traveled' and 'Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening' by Robert Frost, 'I wandered Lonely as a Cloud' by William Wordsworth, and The Beatitudes from the New Testament capture the essence of Caleb's world view. Caleb believed leaning into the beauty in nature to cope with life's trials. As most people, Caleb experienced his fair share of difficulties, including financial hardships brought on by the savings and loan crisis of the late '80's/early '90's and the housing market crash of 2008. He also battled cancer when he was in his eighties. However, Caleb always looked for silver linings, and he found them in his love for his family and the simple pleasures in life. He often said, 'it was more blessed to give than to receive and that the meek should inherit the earth.'

Caleb was a true Virginia gentleman, of a different time and era. Caleb will be forever remembered by his family as a talented salesman, an expert builder, a lover of antiques, and a man with a cowboy boot collection. He was a spiritual man. He often held up the numbers 4 and 0 with his two hands, meaning the most important thing in his life were the 40 people he called his family. Caleb's love of family, enthusiasm for living, and creative energy will be greatly missed.