Joan Lynch Bowser, 91, died December 17, 2016 in Baldwin, Georgia. She was born June 12, 1925 to James and Mary Habershaw in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Early in her life she developed a love for the ocean, a passion she would express throughout her life by sailing and her love for painting. Many of her paintings depicted seaside scenes: fishing boats rocking gently at harbor, a lonely sand dune swept by a sea breeze. Though she took classes she was largely a self-taught artist. Joan graduated from East High School in Pawtucket in 1943, and was married to the Reverend Arthur Russel Lynch on June 7, 1952. The Lynchs began their married life in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, where Arthur was vicar at St. Martin's Episcopal Church. They moved to Bay Village, Ohio in 1960, when Arthur accepted a call at St. Barnabas' Episcopal Church. The Lynchs were warmly welcomed by the parishioners of St. Barnabas, where Joan sang in the choir. Joan and Arthur also owned a house on Cape Cod, Massachussetts during this time, where Joan could indulge her love of sailing. Arthur died in 1988, but Joan lived in Bay Village until 1993. On December 31, 1994, Joan married Berton Bowser, with whom she spent many happy years in Charlottsville, Virginia, and in Cape Cod, until Bert's death in 2004. Joan lived in Charlottesville, with a brief interval in Cape Cod from 2001-2005, until 2012, when she relocated to Georgia, where she lived her remaining years. Joan was a member of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Bay Village, Ohio, Christ Church Episcopal in Harwichport, Massachusetts, and Church of Our Savior in Charlottesville, Virginia, where she enjoyed helping others. Joan was preceded in death by her parents and sisters Jean and Mary Lou, as well as her beloved husbands Arthur and Bert. She is survived and dearly missed by her five children Elizabeth Plummer (Don), Reynoldsburg, Ohio; Alan Lynch, Charlottesville, Virginia; Allison Borchert (Mike), Cleveland, Georgia; Sarah Waite, Sachse, Texas; Susan Dosdon, Charlottesville, Virginia; as well as ten grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Joan's memorial service will be held at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Bay Village, Ohio on January 12, 2017 at 10:00 a.m.. Memorial donations may be made to the Good News Clinic, 810 Page St., Gainesville, Georgia 30503 770-503-1369 Good News Clinics Mission
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Alexander Funeral Home of Cleveland in charge of arrangements (706) 865 - 1500
