Hilda Bowman Amacker, 69, a retired activist for Clean Water Action, a Washington-based environmental organization, died Jan. 8 at a hospital in Greenville, S.C. She had leukemia.

Earlier in her career, Ms. Amacker did advertising work for WMAL radio and administrative work for the U.S. Education Department. Starting in the 1980s, she was a real estate agent and worked in marketing at Time-Life Books.

She joined Clean Water Action in 1995 and was a manager for its phone canvass program. She became coordinator for programs in Delaware, helping to promote safe drinking water and address other environmental concerns.

In 2004, she retired and moved from Washington to Greenwood, S.C., her final residence.

Ms. Amacker was born in Stokes County, N.C., and attended what is now East Carolina University.

She grew vegetables and flowers and did professional catering work on nights and weekends.

She also fed and arranged veterinary care for feral cats. She adopted several kittens born in the alleys adjacent to her home and found homes for others.

She was a member of Universalist National Memorial Church in Washington.

Her marriage to LeBaron Amacker ended in divorce.

Survivors include a son, Justin Amacker of Greenwood; three sisters; and a grandson.

(The Washington Post (DC) ~ January 19, 2006)

GREENWOOD, SC ~ Hilda Bowman Amacker, 69, of Greenwood, formerly of Washington, D.C., died Jan. 8, 2006.

She was born in Stokes County to Walter W. and Sarah Elizabeth Browder Bowman.

She is survived by a son, Justin Bowman Amacker, of Greenwood; a grandson, Elijah; three sisters: Adelaide Hoffman of Gibsonia, Pa., Sara Johnson of Walnut Cove, N.C., and Sammie Bowman of Pueblo, Colo.

Memorial services will be held in Greenwood and in Washington, D.C.

(Winston-Salem Journal (NC) ~ Jan. 17, 2006)