F. Joan Bowen

F. Joan Bowen, 91, of Chambersburg, passed away on Monday, November 28, 2022 at Chambers Point. She was born on October 15, 1931 in Chambersburg to Mose A. and Mabel (Houser) Bowen. She had lived all her life in Chambersburg.
Joan was a third grade teacher and elementary librarian in the Chambersburg Area School District for 36 years retiring in 1990. She graduated from the Chambersburg High School with the class of 1949. She was a 1954 graduate of Shippensburg State Teacher’s College, now Shippensburg University, where she received a Bachelor of Science Degree. She also earned a Master of Education Degree from Penn State University in 1960, and certification as an elementary librarian from Drexel Institute of Technology, now Drexel University, in 1967.
She was a life member of the Pennsylvania State Education Association and the National Education Association, as well as the Franklin County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees. Joan was a member of Omega Chapter, Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, an organization of key women teachers.
Always liking school and wanting to be a teacher from childhood, she was a volunteer at the Chambersburg Area School District archives, which she had established at the encouragement of school district superintendent Edwin H. Sponseller and with the support of the Chambersburg Area School District Foundation.
She was a lifelong active member of the First United Brethren Church, now First United Methodist Church, serving as a Sunday School teacher, Director of Children’s Work, and chairman of the Records and History Committee. A member of the Girl Scouts of America for more than 50 years, she served in various capacities including troop leader, counselor at Camp Sacajawea, and a patrol trainer. She was also an attendee at the National Senior Roundup camping events.
She was a member of the National Audubon Society and the local Conococheague Audubon Society, serving as secretary, treasurer, president and trip leader. An avid birder, she recorded more than 600 bird species on her life list as seen in North America. She was a member of the Franklin County Historical Society-Kittochtinny, where she served as secretary on the Board of Directors as well as a docent and curator of the Old Brown’s Mill School Museum. She was also a member of the Conococheague Institute and the Renfrew Institute.
Joan enjoyed reading, bird watching, needlework, camping and researching local history. She cherished friendship and fellowship.
She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Harold W. Bowen and Richard E. Bowen. She is survived by nieces and nephews, countless students and cherished friends.
There will be no viewing. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Monday, December 5, 2022 in the Chapel of Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 333 Falling Spring Road, Chambersburg, PA. Rev. Steven Livermore will officiate. Interment will follow the service at Norland Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the CASD Foundation (for the archives), 435 Stanley Avenue, Chambersburg, PA 17201. https://secure.qgiv.com/for/casdf/restriction/In+Memory+of+F++Joan+Bowen.