Blanche Bowen Miles' Obituary
Blanche Bowen Miles
30 May 1923 – 12 January 2018
Blanche was born to John Evans Bowen, Jr. and Hannah Ellen McKell Bowen in Burley, Idaho.
She grew up during the Great Depression on farms in Southern Idaho where she was taught the values of hard work, good cooking, and heartfelt kindness to all. Blanche attended BYU, and there met Douglas Coy Miles, of Baker, Oregon. At 19 she became a War Bride on 26 January 1943 in Corpus Christi, Texas, where Coy trained as a Naval Aviator. They were later sealed in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. She cherished her own 3 children, and also loved those she met during the 14 years she served on the LDS Primary General Board. Blanche volunteered as a Beehive House docent, and a UofU Lambda Delta Sigma sorority advisor. She worked as the Fabric Conservator for the LDS Museum of Church History and Art, retiring at age 80. She preserved many priceless items such as Joseph Smith’s Nauvoo Legion Cloak and Red Silk Handkerchief. Blanche baked bread and pies to share, enjoyed oil painting, and took golf lessons with her dear friend Maxine Hanks. She loved sharing uplifting quotes and thoughts.
Preceded in death by her parents and older brothers John McKell Bowen, MD (Dorothy), Henry Reed (Buelah) Bowen, and younger sister Ellen Beverly (Kenner) Kartchner. Survived by children Bowen, Kent, and Margo, their spouses, 8 grandchildren, 3 greatgrandchildren
Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 20, 2018, 12:00 noon, at the Federal Heights LDS Ward, 1300 East Fairfax Road, Salt Lake City, Utah. Visitation from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. prior to the services. Interment at the Fort Douglas Military Cemetery.
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