Margaret Bowman Searles, 81, of Vero Beach, Fla. died March 12, 2004 at Indian River Memorial Hospital. Margaret was born on her family's homestead on March 10, 1923 in Big Lick (Roanoke), Virginia. Her parents, John and Amanda Riley Bowman, had ten daughters and one son, of which Margaret was the youngest. She moved to upstate New York at the age of five, where her father started a carpentry business. She attended school in Ithaca. On a visit to neighboring Owego, she met her future husband, John Robert Searles. They were married on July 22, 1941, in Owego, where his family had settled after the Revolutionary War. He was with IBM in sales and engineering and worked primarily at the Space Guidance Center. Their two children were born there. They remained residents of Owego throughout their forty-three year marriage, which ended at his death, December 22, 1985. Margaret enjoyed cooking and baking "from scratch" and was also known for her Iris and Rose gardens. She was a skilled seamstress, and painting and various crafts were hobbies. Having inherited her father's abilities in carpentry, she and her husband literally constructed their first home. Margaret was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church and it's Women's Altar Guild in Owego. She also belonged to the Order of the Eastern Star and the Garden Club of Owego. Margaret moved back to Roanoke to be near her sister Aldine, in 1989. She resided there until 1996, when she moved to Vero Beach. She lived at Vista Royale and attended Trinity Episcopal Church. Margaret is survived by her son, John and his wife, Kathy Johnstone Searles; and her daughter, Christine and husband, Norman Cram. John is an attorney who resides in Burlington, Ontario. Chris works in insurance in Chicago. She has two grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
A Memorial Service will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Strunk Funeral Home, Vero Beach, Fla., with the Rev. Jonathan G. Robbins officiating. Interment will be at a later date in Owego, N.Y. In lieu of flowers, family requests contributions be made to the Council on Aging, Inc., 694 14th Street, Vero Beach, Fla., 32960 in memory of Margaret Searles.

[Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin]