Gatha Bowling Harris, age 97, of Stuart, went home to be with the Lord and her husband on March 28, 2016.
She was born in Patrick County on May 16, 1918, to the late Okla Bowling and Velma Belcher Bowling. She was also preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Richard G. Harris; an infant great-grandson, Richard James Ellis; two brothers, Alvis Bowling and wife Garnet, and Johnnie Bowling and wife Opal; a sister-in-law, Lelia Wade Fain and husbands, Harman Wade and Roy Fain; a son-in-law, Bruce Gunter; and a nephew, Hansel Bowling.
She loved cooking for her family and neighbors. She also loved to quilt and sew, and was a lifetime member of the Buffalo Ridge Homemakers Club where she was voted Mother of the Year. She was also a member of the Woolwine Volunteer Fire Department Women’s Auxiliary for many years. She retired from Woolwine United Elastic Plant, and was a member of Sycamore Baptist Church. She will be greatly missed by her children and grandchildren and all those who loved her.
Surviving are one son and daughter-in-law, Richard Maynard and Donna Harris of Spotsylvania; five daughters, Thelma Gunter Boothe and husband Donald, Lucille Stone and husband Bernard, Ruby McAlexander and husband Glen, all of Stuart, Judy Jamison and husband John of Martinsville, and Betty Ellis and husband Jim of Wirtz; 20 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; nine loving nieces and nephews and their spouses and families; and a special caregiver, Sharon AldDoost.
Funeral services will be held today (Wednesday, March 30, 2016) at 2 p.m. at Moody Funeral Home in Stuart with Pastor Wayne Moore officiating. Burial will follow in Jack’s Creek Primitive Baptist Church cemetery.
The family will receive friends two hours prior to the service at the funeral home.
If desired, memorials may be made to Smith River Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 122, Woolwine, VA 24185 or to Woolwine Volunteer Fire Department, 9957 Woolwine Hwy., Woolwine, VA 24185.
Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.moodyfuneralservices.com.
