Barbara Bowser dies at 73

Barbara Bowser, wife of prominent attorney and civil-rights leader Charles W. Bowser, died Saturday in Lankenau Hospital. She was 73.

Barbara had been admitted to the hospital suffering from complications from leukemia, her daughter, Leslie Bowser Hope, said last night.

She was a graduate of Girls High and West Chester University with a degree in elementary education.

She taught for a few years and got married in 1958 to Charles Bowser.

"She taught until 1959 when she became pregnant with me. I'm the oldest.," said Leslie. "Then she became a homemaker to raise her children."

After Leslie, there were Marie Bowser, now deceased, and Charles W. Bowser Jr.

Leslie said the family have lived in Wynnefield "all my life, but I'm not telling my age."

Barbara Bowser was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. for 50 years and a world traveler, visiting every continent "except Antarctica."

"She also traveled with her bridge buddies," Leslie said. "She was an avid bridge player, enjoyed the game very much."

In later life, her greatest joys were her grandchildren, Lindsay Camille Hope, 17, Leslie's daughter; and Cameron Bowser, 6, and Charles Douglas Bowser, 3, children of Charles Bowser Jr.

Services: Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Pinn Memorial Baptist Church, 54th Street and Wynnefield Avenue. *