Dorothy "Dottie" Bowline

Dorothy “Dottie” Riegel Dalbom Bowline was living proof of Love embodied. She lived each day giving joy and service to others. She honored God by proclaiming that “the joy of the Lord is my strength” Nehemiah 8:10.

Services will be held for Dorothy Riegel Dalbom Bowline at First Presbyterian Church, 1100 Harrison, Amarillo, Texas, on August 12, 2024 at 11:00 am with Murray Gossett officiating. A celebration reception will be held immediately following at First Presbyterian. The interment will be at the Viola Cemetery, Viola, Kansas on August 14, 2024 at 11:00 followed by a luncheon at the Viola Community Center.

Dorothy was born January 10, 1929 in Great Bend, Kansas, the second child of Virgel and Harriet Riegel. She graduated from Great Bend High School and then attended Ottawa University, where she was a member of the University Choir, and various leadership organizations and honoraries on campus. She graduated in 1950 with a B.S. in Home Economics. Dottie loved her childhood in Great Bend and treasured her college memories at Ottawa University. 

Following college graduation, Dottie moved to Conway Springs, Kansas to teach Home Economics where she unsurprisingly caught the eye of young Harold Dalbom. Dottie expertly played a little hard to get with Harold, but to her delight the two were wed in 1953, living the first few of their over 50 years together, among their many friends in the Flint Hills of Kansas.

In 1961 Harold and Dottie moved to Clovis, New Mexico. Dottie was an active member of First Presbyterian Church in Clovis and enjoyed singing in the choir and sharing love and care to others at the church. Dottie taught for many years, teaching countless 3rd graders at Ranchvale and Barry Elementary. Her students would tell you she had a knack for making everyone feel special, whether in the classroom or in life. Similarly, her loved ones would tell you she never quit being a teacher, always making sure your grammar was precise, and most importantly encouraging all children to love reading and learning. She loved sharing and gifting books to the children in her life to include grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends. 

As a mother, Dottie filled her home with happiness, warmth and something yummy to eat. Her cooking was special—every meal was a labor of love, and her kitchen was the heart of family gatherings. She participated enthusiastically in the role of being a mom to her four active children and as a dear friend to many in the Clovis community. Her kitchen was central to friends of her children who would gather for a delicious meal or a warm slice of her home-made bread. She had the gift of “tweaking” a recipe to make it her own, and delighted in making homemade “mini-cins”, “Grandy rolls”, as well as her famous sheet cake, before anyone in Texas dared to claim it in a cookbook. She made innumerable personalized cookbooks for friends and family. Her unshakable faith and infectious joy were the core motivators of her love and gifts to others.

In 1981, Harold and Dottie moved to Amarillo, Texas where they continued to be active members of the First Presbyterian Church and happily transitioned into the sweet, retired life. They traveled across the Midwest and TX, and spent countless hours with their church family and friends including the renowned “NUFFS”. Dottie loved singing in the choir, ringing bells, and supporting the music ministry at the church. A highlight was traveling with the choir to Europe. Dottie’s life was a testament to her belief in the Lord, and her positive spirit was as constant as her incredible sense of humor. 

Dottie had a way of turning the ordinary into the extraordinary, and always found a reason to laugh, even if it was at her own expense. In the end, her sense of humor and resiliency kept her strong as she cared for Harold in his final days and to his passing in 2007. In her caring for Harold, Dottie became interested in making hand-tied fleece blankets for her loved ones. Her family estimates that she made hundreds of blankets for family and friends over the years, tying love from her heart into each knot.

After Harold passed away, Dottie reconnected with her college friend and classmate, Bob Bowline. Dottie enjoyed her marriage to Bob and their life together in Lawrence, Kansas where she made many friends there to include members of the First Baptist church, her P.E.O Chapter HZ, and Bob’s beautiful children and grandchildren. She loved Bob’s family and enjoyed caring for each of them.

After her sweet time spent back in KS, Dottie returned to Amarillo in 2019 with much rejoicing by friends and family to live at Brookdale Medi Park West. Not surprisingly, she was elated by new friendships and special support, signing up for innumerable weekly activities and social activities. She often spoke of how grateful she was to have found such a beautiful living space after she moved back to Amarillo. Her final chapter in life was joy-filled with activities, her Brookdale church services and Bible study, and very special friends who became so dear to her. Dottie was a one-of-a-kind treasure, who made our lives richer and our hearts fuller. Her laughter and love will be missed more than words can say, but we’ll keep her memory alive with every story and every smile. 

Dorothy is survived by her four children, Jann and her husband Rex Hunter of Cloudcroft, NM; Sarah and her husband Todd Gray of Tucson, AZ; Julia and her husband Charles Coates of Atlanta, GA, and Darin and his wife, Tammy of Edmond, OK, her grandchildren, Molly, Allison, Emily, Elizabeth, Miles, Henry and Ingrid, and great-grandchildren, Logan, Keldon, Molly, Kyson, Paige, Cree, Coley, Lane, Bonnie, and her newest, baby Wolf. She received special love and care from her niece Karen and her husband Steve Schneider of Amarillo, TX and their family, Jenn and John Studebaker, Jacie and Jack, and Jake and Abbie Schneider, Ellie, Deacon, and Brynlee. She was so grateful for her cousin Janis Blakey of Edmonton, Canada. Her many Riegel and Dalbom nieces, nephews, and their families were special and dear to her and she was grateful for each of them.

In lieu of flowers please consider a charity of your choice, First Presbyterian Church, Ottawa University, Brookdale Medi Park West, or Storybridge AMA.org.