Deborah Bowers

1958 - 2022

Deborah Racey Bowers, 64, of Woodstock, passed away, June 13, 2022, at Blue Ridge Hospice in Winchester. A memorial service will be held Friday, June 17, 2022, at 2:00pm at Valley Pike Church of the Brethren in Maurertown. The family will receive friends an hour prior to the service. Pastor Jonathan Fletcher will officiate. Burial will be private at a later date by the family.

Mrs. Bowers was born March 27, 1958, in Winchester, daughter of the late Melvin Miles Racey. She is survived by her mother, Annabel Hottel Racey; husband of 42 years, Wayne; three wonderful sons and their wives, Adam (Megan), Aaron (Jessica), Alan (Christa); four beautiful granddaughters, Abigail, Payton, Keira, Leah; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

She was a member of Valley Pike Church of the Brethren where she held various positions: church board chairman, was on various committees, a Sunday school teacher, and choir director. She was an avid and knowledgeable Bible reader.

Mrs. Bowers graduated from Central High School in 1976 where she participated in numerous activities such as, Centralite 9-11, SCA 8-12, Tri-Hi-Y, treas. 11, Tri-Hi-Y, reporter 12, girls varsity track 10-12, forensics 9-12, Intra., Volleyball 8-12, Prom Committee, Va. Girls State representative, NHS 11-12, FHA 9-12, Chorus 8, 11, and 12.

In 1979, she graduated from Roanoke Memorial Hospital School of Nursing where she studied to become a registered nurse. Her memo quote in her school annual was, "for all its terrors and tragedies…. The life of man is a good thing of potential beauty and dignity... To live is good."

Mrs. Bowers worked in the O.B. unit at Shenandoah Memorial Hospital, she was a nurse for several years at Shenandoah County Public Schools and several years for Frederick County Public Schools. She gathered up hats from various donors to help the Jamaican farm workers that worked in the apple orchards in Frederick County.

While she was home and couldn't do much for herself, she would still want to use her nursing skills and knowledge to help hurting people which she had heard about or would see on TV. She wished to be able to help the sick, the starving people, and the children in America and other countries. She always wanted to be able to serve on one of the mercy ships and supported Samaritans Purse Program.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to her special friend, Vonnie Hepner as well as all the doctors, nurses, and all other staff for the home visits and at the Blue Ridge Hospice in Winchester.

Deborah's philosophy in life was "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things, I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to, Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 West Cork Street, Suite 405, Winchester, Va. 22601 or Shriners Hospital for Children , 3551 N. Broad St. Philadelphia, PA, 19140.

Online condolences may be left at www.valleyfs.com

Arrangements by Heishman Funeral Home Inc., Valley Funeral Service Branch, Edinburg.