Darleen Louise (Lowrance) Gowin, 84, of Bethalto, departed this earth Sunday morning surrounded by her children. She was born on the family farm, May 25, 1930, in East Alton (Rosewood Heights), the eldest child of Delmer and Martha (Hassmann) Lowrance.
Darleen attended school in Bethalto, but as they only had a three-year high school, she finished high school and graduated from Wood River.
She married Garland “Red” Gowin on July 24, 1955, at St. John United Church of Christ in Wood River. He preceded her in death on July 11, 2008.
Darleen worked at Miller’s Mutual insurance in Alton until she left to become a full-time homemaker when they started their family. She was a room mother, a member of the PTA, a cheerleader for her children, a volunteer with the Girl Scouts, and a lifetime member of St. John United Church of Christ in Wood River, where she was a member of the choir and led several committees throughout the years.
She is survived by her children and their spouses, Fred (Wendy) Gowin, Ed (Michele) Gowin, Ted (Clare) Gowin and Susan (Jack) Woelfel, all of Bethalto; 11 grandchildren, Aimee Williams, Andrew, Jennifer, Tad, Isaac, Dana, and MaryAlice Gowin and Jonah, Martha, Jackalynn and Madeline Woelfel; a great-granddaughter, Lula; and soon to be great-grandson, Leo Gowin; two sisters, Mary Ann McAdams of Moro and Shirley Weirich of Aurora, Colo.; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and three brothers, Delmer Jr., Bob and Darrell Lowrance. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 2, 2014, at Elias, Kallal and Schaaf Funeral Home in Bethalto.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 3, 2014, at St. John United Church of Christ in Wood River with Pastor Michael Southcombe officiating.
Interment will follow at Rose Lawn Memory Gardens in Bethalto.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. John United Church of Christ.
Online condolences and guestbook may be found at www.eliaskallalandschaaf.com.