Geraldine "Jeri" Bowles Geraldine "Jeri" Bowles - Born August 5, 1916 - Died April 23, 2014. Jeri was born in Fullerton, California to Ruth and John Corona. She was the first of four children: Stella, born in 1918, John Jr., born in 1922 and James, born in 1926. She married Eugene "Gene" Bowles on June 1, 1935 in Wasco, California. The marriage was blessed with two children, Gerald Eugene, born on April 1, 1936, and Evelyn Diane, born on October 25, 1939. Jeri had five grandchildren: Steven, Leslie Clark of Tulare and Lori Faulkner of Exeter, children of Gerald and Shirley Bowles, and Todd Wilder of Monrovia and Terry Wildermuth of Visalia, children of Evelyn and Jack Wildermuth. She also had six great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren. When her children were grown and married, Jeri attended beauty school and then opened and operated Jeri's Cameo Salon in Tulare for a number of years. She later sold the salon and went into business with her sister Stella operating The Knitter's Den, a knitting supply store where they taught knitting, crocheting, needlepoint, etc. During this time, Jeri was an avid member and pianist at the Church of the Brethren near Plainview. She was Past President of the Tulare Emblem Club and in her later years lead the band Jeri and Friends, playing for dances at the Oddfellows Hall in Visalia for about 12 years. In the early 1990s, Jeri decided to stay home and be a housewife and caregiver for her husband, who had become ill. She remained in this role until 2004, when Gene passed away. She was preceded in death by her parents, her first grandson Steven, her husband Gene and her brother, John Jr. Her final years were spent at Twin Oaks Assisted Living facility as age and illness began to take their toll. Jeri passed away on April 23, 2014 in Tulare surrounded by her family. She was a successful mother and businesswoman who was sometimes misunderstood but always loved by those who knew her. Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. at the Tulare Cemetery on Wednesday, May 7. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Alzheimer's Foundation or other favorite charities. The family would like to thank the staff at Twin Oaks and Merritt Manor for providing diligent and loving care in the final years of Jeri's life. Arrangements by Miller Memorial Chapel, Visalia.



Published in Visalia Times-Delta and Tulare Adv-