RUTH STARLING

RUTH STARLING

TAYLOR BOWERS

Mrs. Ruth Starling Taylor Bowers, formerly of Wilmington, NC, was reunited with Jesus, family, and friends in heavenly Glory on October 28, 2012, at the age of 87, in Charlotte, NC, where she had been a resident for the past 20 years. Mrs. Bowers' Celebration of Life services will be held in the Weddington Chapel of Heritage Funeral Home at Forest Lawn EAST, 3700 Forest Lawn Drive, Matthews, NC, 28104, at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, November 2, 2012. A graveside service will immediately follow at the family estate in Forest Lawn EAST. Mrs. Bowers was born in Wilmington, NC, on January 28, 1925, where she attended Tileston School and New Hanover High School during her youth. On July 15, 1943, she married her first love, the late State Highway Patrolman J.C. Taylor, Sr. Raising their four children and sharing 47 years of marriage, their legacy lives on in their children who were taught the importance of living Christian principles. Following her homemaker career, Mrs. Bowers joined the New Hanover County School system as a food services manager. After her retirement from that position, she started her own business at the age of 62.

Shortly after her first husband's death, Ruth relocated to Charlotte to be near her children. Little did she know, at age 69, she would find love again. She delighted in telling the stories of her fairytale romance and marriage to the "gentle man", Norman McDonald "Mack" Bowers. They enjoyed a wonderful "lifetime" in their 13 short years together, separated by Mr. Bowers' death in 2006.

Mrs. Taylor-Bowers is survived by her three children, Miriam Y. Taylor, Brenda T. Shipman and husband Michael B. Shipman, and Sheryl L. Taylor; and her grand-daughter, Sarah K. Starling; her sister, Genevieve S. Robinson; and her brother, Haywood R. Starling, Sr. She was preceded in death by her son, John Carleton Taylor, Jr.; her mother and father, Arthur J. Starling, Sr. and Gabrielle King Starling; and siblings A.J. Starling, Jr., Vera S. Britt, and William B. Starling, Sr. Mrs. Taylor-Bowers' nephews and son-in-law will represent her family as pallbearers: William B. Starling, Jr., Jeffrey L. Starling, Robert D. Godfrey, James Robinson, Ronald Starling, and Michael S. Shipman.

Mrs. Taylor-Bowers is adoringly remembered by her children and grand-daughter as being an extraordinary woman of faith who instilled in them her Christian authenticity, courage, virtues, and values, as she embraced each God-given day as a new and sacred opportunity to love His children unconditionally as a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, friend, and humble servant of the Lord. She was the kind of woman others wrote poems and made picture books about. Her infectious laughter, enduring optimism, generous hospitality, abundant kind-heartedness, and her love and sharing of music were her blessings to others, and those enduring gifts will live on forever in the hearts of all those whom she gracefully touched throughout her many well-lived years.

The family would like to recognize and express gratitude to Dr. Steven Kadiev and Dr. Jack Lohavichan for diagnosing (in Feb 2011) and managing her Wegeners autoimmune disease. The family is also grateful to all of her caregivers.

Please share your memories of Ruth and condolences with the family at: www.legacy.com or www.heritagefuneral.net.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Ruth's favorite charitable organization, The Salvation Army, (a location of your choice) or at 4335 Stuart Andrew Blvd, Ste.120, Charlotte, NC 28217.

Arrangements are in the care of Heritage Funeral Home, Weddington Chapel. (704) 846-3771

Online condolences at StarNewsOnline.com