MADELEINE HELEN BLACKFORD BOWLING died peacefully at her home in Castro Valley surrounded by her family on February 5, 2004. She moved to Castro Valley from Oakland in 1955. Madeleine was born on September 22, 1915 in Marysville, CA and resided in Wheatland, CA as a young girl. She was the daughter of the late Robert Hartley Blackford and Leona Katherine Dam Blackford. Mrs. Bowling attended Wheatland Elementary and High School and Anna Head High School after moving to Berkeley. Mrs. Bowling had many accomplishments throughout her entire life that included the following: Past President of Jefferson Elementary School PTA, Past President of the NDGW., Parlor 122. She began working in the cafeteria for the Castro Valley School District in 1956 and became the cafeteria manager for A.B. Morris Junior High. She later became President of the ASFSA. In the late 60's, she became a Red Cross certified senior lifeguard. During that time she also attended Chabot College in Hayward and received her AA degree with honors. She always had a fondness for her hometown and was the major donor of the rehabilitation of Pioneer Hall in Wheatland. Pioneer Hall was completed in 1915 and initially used as a Baptist Church and later a Community Center. Many of her relatives assisted in the initial construction. Madeleine was an avid sports fan and longtime season ticket holder to both the Oakland Athletics and the Oakland Raiders. She belonged to the Oakland Raider and Oakland Athletic Booster Clubs. She traveled extensively with the Gad Abouts, Hayward Travel and Culture Club and CRS Travel. Her hobbies were gardening and Bingo. Madeleine was married for 53 years to the late Earl Joseph Bowling, Retired CWO, USN (30 years). She was the loving sister of Leonard Dam Blackford of Sacramento and late Robert Hartley Blackford, Jr. of Wheatland; loving mother to Earl Jerome Bowling (Libby), Madeleine Leona Jackson (Bill), Patrick Russell Bowling, Roberta Bowling Prutzman (George) and Beverly Jean Hegg; devoted grandmother to fourteen grandchildren, Annie, Karen, Becky, Candy, Michael, Jeffrey, Joseph, Anthony, Judy, Janet, Tom, Gary, Bobby, and Gina. She also leaves twenty great-grandchildren. Family and friends are invited to attend her Funeral Service at the Chapel of the Valley Mortuary, 20359 Lake Chabot Road, Castro Valley, on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2004 at 5:00 p.m. Visitation from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Chapel. Interment at Wheatland Cemetery, 4865 Wheatland Road, Wheatland, Thursday, February 12 at 12:30 p.m. The family asks that donations be made to Wheatland High School Scholarship Fund in memory of Madeleine Blackford Bowling c/o Beverly Hegg, 2612 Edgerock Rd., Reno, NV 89509. CHAPEL OF THE VALLEY MORTUARY (510) 581-0900.

Alameda Times-Star 2/10/04.