Barbara Sue Bowe

Barbara Sue Bowe, 77, of Columbus, Ohio died Tuesday, September 4, 2018 after a courageous battle with ovarian cancer. She was born on September 10, 1940 to the late J. Hubert and Beatrice M. Ross in Glendale, West Virginia. She married the love of her life, James J. Bowe, in 1962. They were married 52 years prior to his passing in 2014. Barbara was a loving and generous wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. Her philosophy in life was, "If someone doesn't have a smile, give them yours." In 1975, Barbara founded Alphabet Nursery School on Fulton Road in Canton, which she owned and operated for 38 years until her retirement in 2013. She also served as the Director for the Hilltop Learning Center in Malvern from 2011-2013. Known to all as simply, "Mrs. Bowe," or "Barbow," she dedicated her life to children and the idea that children learn through love. Well into her sixties, you could find her rocking an infant in the main hallway of her school, or roller-skating and swimming on a school field trip. Her legacy is the unending love she shared with all she knew. The impact she made on thousands of children, families, parents and teachers in the Canton area is immeasurable. Barbara loved life, loved to laugh and sing and spend time with her family. She lived most of her life in the Canton area, with many years at Lake Cable and retired to Columbus, Ohio. She graduated from Canton McKinley High School in 1958 and began working as a telephone operator in the Canton office of Ohio Bell where she met her husband. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Kent State University in 2001. She attended and enjoyed singing in the choir at the Church of the Lakes and Riverside United Methodist Church. Barbara is survived by children: daughter, Teresa Christie (William) of New Smyrna Beach, Florida; daughter, Rebecca Corsi (John) of Hartville, Ohio; daughter, Elizabeth Ehler (Anthony) of Upper Arlington, Ohio; and son, James J. Bowe II of Columbus, Ohio; grandchildren: Christopher Reed; Gianna, Isabella, Vincencio and Salvatore Corsi; Alex, Max and Jack Ehler; and siblings: sister, Patricia Henry (Patrick) of Bridgeport, Ohio and brother, Charles Ross (Alice) of Malvern, Ohio. Friends may call Friday from 6-8 p.m. at the Lamiell Funeral Home and Saturday from 9-10 a.m. at Church of the Lakes. Funeral service will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at Church of the Lakes with Pastor Bryan George officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Hills Memory Gardens. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital.