MARGARET MAXWELL BRADDOCK BOWMAN Nov. 22, 1933 – July 31, 2023
Margaret Maxwell Braddock Bowman passed away peacefully July 31 in Tucson, Arizona.
She was born Nov. 22, 1933 in New York, NY to Guilbert Campbell Braddock & Estelle Maxwell Braddock.
Growing up, both of Margaret’s parents were deaf, so she was well versed in sign language. Her love of languages didn’t stop there as she also learned Dutch and Spanish.
Margaret attended the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA where she met Allen Lee Bowman. They were both active in the drama. Margaret was waiting for Al to put props away after a rehearsal for “Guys and Dolls”. She waited for quite a while. Unbeknownst to her, Al was working up the courage to propose. The two shared a long life of 70 years together after they were married June 14, 1952 in Williamsburg at Bruton Parish Church.
Al and Margaret moved to Los Alamos, NM in 1958 along with their young daughter, Brenda. While there, they had three more children, Catherine, Kenny, and Murray.
In 1979 Margreth met Bridget VanOss, who was an au pair from Holland (“Margreth” is the Dutch spelling of Margaret, which Bridget affectionately used). Bridget was invited her into her home and given an American home. A special friendship was born and Margreth offered Bridget the opportunity to get to know New Mexico and her friends. Margreth also visited Bridget’s family several times in Holland. She even learned some of the Dutch language. Other members of the “VanOss’ museum” also visited Margreth and Al in Los Alamos. Over the years, there was regular contact by telephone and other opportunities to see each other again.
In 1991, they moved to Green Valley to begin retirement together.
Margaret had a love for knitting, reading, and cooking, especially New Mexican food. She also had a true passion for growing roses. She grew the most beautiful, large rose bushes of different varieties in both Los Alamos and Green Valley. One particular rosebush in Los Alamos actually consumed a large section of the backside of their house.
She would often tell memories of her grandchildren. One she would often tell was about Dov. He once walked up to her and said, “dum” and she thought he was calling her “dumb” but what he was really doing was asking for some “gum”. She would laugh each time she shared this story.
Margaret enjoyed spending time with her other grandchildren, Orli, Jennifer, and Kailey. Kailey decided to take Sign Language as her second language in High School. This was very special to Margaret, as it was a throw-back to her own childhood, and it created a very special bond between the two.
Margaret was preceded in death by her husband and her parents.
Margaret is survived by her daughters Brenda Giese of Tahoe, CA, Catherine Bowman of Los Alamos, NM, and sons Kenny Bowman and his wife Carol of Prosper, TX, and Murray Bowman of Tucson, AZ, six grandchildren, Dov Shlachter (Karen Altergott), Orli Shlachter, Jennifer Bowman, Kailey Bowman, Cathy Blake (Patrick), and Travis Weatheread (Ebony), as well as four great-grandchildren with one more due in the spring of 2024.
A memorial for Margaret will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 22 at St. Francis of the Valley Episcopal Church in Green Valley, AZ.
