It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Vivian L. Bowman, wife of the late Robert L. Bowman, mother of Brenda S. White, Robin L. Cole and Scott R. Bowman(Amy Hazelette Bowman), grandmother of Casey L. White(Elise White) and R. Kyle White(Lindsay Phaup), and great grandchildren   R. Dane White and Wren A. White. She was also blessed with bonus grandchildren Kate R. Williams, Chelsea M. Carroll (Corey T. Carroll) and Jacob R. Williams, and bonus great grandchildren Hallie M. Carroll and Lillie G. Carroll.

Vivian was a beautiful, soft spoken Southern belle with a gentle spirit who, surrounded by her family, quietly slipped away into the arms of Jesus on July 22, 2025. She was 94 years old.

She was born in Portsmouth, VA on November 22, 1930 to Thomas and Helen Turner. The second oldest of four girls, Vivian was the only one with red hair, and was playfully teased by her family that she really belonged to the mailman, who was also a redhead. As a toddler, she won a beautiful baby contest, due in part to her shiny auburn curls.

She graduated from Churchland High School in Portsmouth, VA in 1948. On a return bus trip from visiting family in Clarksville, VA, she caught the eye of a handsome young Marine named Robert Lee Bowman. He offered to buy her a hamburger when the bus stopped for lunch, and after many years of marriage he often joked that he didn't realize he'd be buying her hamburgers for the rest of his life.

After starting a family and working a variety of jobs in her early married life, Vivian became a full-time homemaker when the family moved to Hampton, VA in 1966. She became actively involved with Community Presbyterian Church, where she volunteered in many capacities for over 50 years. She joined the Home Demonstration club, where she learned how to make many different crafts, and experimented with cooking new mouth watering dishes, much to the delight of her family. She was an excellent seamstress, and sewed everything from rag dolls and curtains to clothes and wedding gowns for both of her daughters. Vivian had a knack for decorating, and created a warm, cozy, welcoming home environment for her family to return to at the end of the day.

In later years, when Bob retired and became more actively involved in his woodworking, she could often by found sitting at the dining room table, painting and adding the finishing touches to his finished products. They started participating in craft shows and became so successful that they eventually opened their own craft store named The Pine Peddler. They stayed active for many years in the retail business but eventually retired to concentrate on their love of travel and enjoying their young grandchildren.

We would like to acknowledge and give our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to Amy Hazelette Bowman, whose arrival in our lives was truly God sent. Amy went way above and beyond her calling as Vivian's daughter-in-law by becoming her full-time caregiver for the past 5 years. Everything she did for her was done out of love and devotion. We are truly blessed to have her in our lives.

As a final thought, Vivian used to collect angel figurines. She had a few that had red hair. Her late son-in-law Roger White loved to tease her about her auburn locks and often told her that there was no such thing as a red headed angel. She finally proved him wrong.

The family will receive friends from 11 to 12 PM on Monday, July 28, 2025 at R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home, with a service to follow at 12 Noon at the funeral home; with a committal service at Hampton Memorial Gardens.