Virginia Mae Mahnke Bowen
Virginia Mae Mahnke Bowen, longtime Ponca City resident, passed away Thursday morning, May 24, 2018, at her home. She was 89.
A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, May 30, at 2 p.m. at Connect Church (formerly the Church of God) 1101 West Grand with Chuck Lessert officiating. Burial will follow in Resthaven Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Virginia Mae was born on Nov. 17, 1928, the daughter of Arthur Herman Mahnke and Grace Taylor Mahnke in Guthrie. She attended Guthrie schools until they moved to Ponca City and she started junior high. She graduated from Ponca City High School in 1946.
She was married to Jack Truman Colberg and to this union was born Ron Colberg, Vicki Colberg Lessert and Kathleen “Kathy” A. Colberg Northcutt.
She then married Bob Joe Bowen. They owned and operated BJ Furniture and also BJ Janitorial. He preceded her in death on Dec. 12, 1997.
She was a longtime member of the Church of God. Her faith was her strongest attribute. She loved Gospel music, especially “The Gaithers”.
She had worked in earlier years at the Kress store, was a telephone operator, as well as a nurse’s aide. She also served as a crossing guard for Ponca City Public Schools for the Garfield School area and then the Roosevelt School area.
She lived in what was known as the “Avon” house. Her mother never drove a car, but walked all over Ponca City selling Avon and that’s how they paid for the house!
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, B.J.; daughter, Kathy Northcutt, on Nov. 8, 2017; step-daughter, Bobbie Jo Smith; three sisters, Phyline Mahnke Flynn, Geraldine Mahnke McAlister and Louise Mahnke Moody and one brother, Art Mahnke.
Survivors include her son, Ronald T. Colberg and wife Carolyne, of Ponca City; her family from Ronald includes: Grandson, Chad Colberg and wife Sandi, of Ponca City; great-granddaughter, Autumn and husband Dustin Kincaid, of Blackwell; great-great-grandson, Bryer Scott Kinkaid, of Blackwell; great-grandson, Dayton Colberg, of Ponca City; step granddaughter, Baylee Kirkendall and fiancé Brandon Cook, of Norman; step great-granddaughter, Halee Winkelman, of Ponca City; two step great-great-granddaughters, Hanna and Alexis Winkelman, of Ponca City; grandson, Jeremy Colberg, of Ponca City; great-grandsons, Kaleb and Kaiden Colberg, both of Ponca City; step great-grandson, Cori Winkelman, of Ponca City; step great-granddaughter, Sara Lee and husband Dalton and step great-great-granddaughters, Grace Lynn and Reaghan Lee. She is also survived by daughter, Vicki Lessert and husband Chuck Lessert, of Hendersonville, Tenn. Her family from Vicki includes: Grandson, Jay F. Lessert III and wife Deana M.; step great-grandson, Eric Neal and wife Sara; step great-great-grandson, Devon Neal; step great-great-granddaughter, Carleigh Neal; step great-grandson, Hunter Tudor and great-granddaughter, Lydia Ann Lessert, all of Hendersonville, Tenn.; grandson, Keith D. Lessert and wife Elizabeth Lessert, of San Antonio, Texas, his deceased previous wife, Meredith Lessert; step granddaughter, Kennedy Kyle, of Tennessee and great-grandson, Garrett R. Lessert, of San Antonio, Texas.
Her family from her daughter Kathy Northcutt includes: Grandsons, Paul Northcutt and wife Lauri, of Ponca City, Mike Lindsey and wife Kristin, of Wichita, Kan., Luke Northcutt and wife Becky, of Ponca City, Walter Northcutt and wife Stephanie, of Lakewood, Colo. and Steven Whaley and wife Paige, of Dallas, Texas; great-grandchildren, Skylar Bybee, Braden Lindsey, Jaelyn Northcutt, Gracie Northcutt, Cooper Northcutt, Benjamin Northcutt, Isaiah Northcutt and Collyn Northcutt; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to Connect Church, 1101 West Grand, Ponca City, OK 74601 or Hospice of North Central Oklahoma 445 Fairview, Ponca City, OK 74601.
The online guest book may be signed at www.gracememorial chapel.net.
paid obituary