1932
2017
Dr. Angela J, Bowen, a longtime Olympia physician, medical research pioneer and community philanthropist, died peacefully at her home in Olympia, Wash., on Aug. 31, 2017. Born near Taylorsville, Miss., on Oct. 18, 1932, she was a trailblazer in many respects. She was the first person from her rural farm family to attend college, and was one of just four women in the University of Washington Medical School graduating class of 1963.
She was a medical researcher in the field of endocrinology, maintained a medical practice in Olympia for many years and authored books and conducted workshops on nutritional health. Dr. Bowen was a fierce defender of women's reproductive rights and spearheaded efforts to establish a second hospital in Olympia, Capital Medical Center, which opened in 1985. She also formed the Western Institutional Review Board, which became the largest, independent medical review board in the world, conducting ethical reviews to ensure that the health and rights of patients in clinical trials were protected.
Based in Olympia, WIRB grew to nearly 300 full and part-time employees by 2007. In 2003 she formed the Middleton Foundation for Ethical Studies, which offered fellowships to medical practitioners around the world, training them in medical research ethics. As a tireless ambassador for human protection in medical trials, she co-authored 31 medical journal papers and made more than 130 presentations at workshops and conferences from Washington, D.C., to Santiago, Chile. In recognition of her career accomplishments, Dr. Bowen received many honors, including a lifetime achievement award from the Association of Clinical Research Professionals in 2008, the leadership in human protection award from the World Health Organization in 2010 and the health care champion award from the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce and Thurston Mason Medical Society in 2013.
Her civic and professional affiliations were many and varied. She served on the Capital Medical Center board of trustees and was a former president of the Thurston-Mason Medical Society. She was a longtime member of the American Medical Association, Washington State Medical Association and American Association for the Advancement of Science. She served on several World Health Organization committees and co-chaired the Doris Duke Foundation Consortium to Examine Clinical Research 2002-2005.
Dr. Bowen had a life-long love of wildlife habitat and open space. She was an avid gardener and enjoyed strolls through the mature forests and ravines found on her 20-acre nature sanctuary and home in West Olympia. She was a lover of animals, including her eights dogs, which were mostly Weimaraners, and the many cats she took into her home over the years. Not one to seek the spotlight, Dr. Bowen had a long history of philanthropy and natural resource conservation in the Olympia area. In 2007, her conservancy foundation preserved the 3.2-acre rhododendron and azalea farm in northeast Olympia, which was created by Art and Peggy Zabel in the late 1960s.
Dr. Bowen donated the park to the City of Olympia in 2015. She also funded major improvements to the Olympia Tumwater Foundation's Tumwater Falls Park. In 2012, Dr. Bowen purchased the Olympia Country and Golf Club, saving it from financial ruin. She invested millions of dollars in club improvements and ensured the property would be protected from real estate development in perpetuity.
Her generosity and kind deeds extended to many friends and family members. Dr. Bowen was preceded in death by her mother, Irene Hardin, her stepfather, Louis Walker Middleton, and husband, Jack Brennan, She is survived by several cousins.
A celebration of life for Dr. Bowen will be held at the Olympia Country and Golf Club on September 26, 2017 from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Dr. Bowen can be made to the Center for Healthy Aging at the Virginia Mason Medical Center in care of the Virginia Mason Foundation, P.O. Box 1930, MS: D1-MF, Seattle, Wash., 98111
Arrangements under the direction of Mills & Mills Funeral Home and Memorial Park, Tumwater, WA.
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September 6, 2022
Work
Suzanne McCarthy
Five years have passed but memories of the Great Lady Angela remain strong.
I wish that someone with writing talents would write Angela´s biography. She lived an interesting life and accomplished so much.
April 18, 2021
Student
Anothai Pocathikorn
We, MFES group 4, are deeply saddened to hear of Dr. Bowen's passing. We are one of the lucky groups whose life was touched by this very special lady. We assure that the honorable legacy that Dr. Bowen leaves behind offers both inspiration and commitment to us and we aspire to emulate this great lady to the fullest extent we are able.
We unite in offering our condolences to the Middleton Foundation people in their time of mourning. We unite in honoring the exemplary life of a great person, Dr. Angele Bowen.
Middleton Foundation for Ethical Studies Fellows Group 4 From Thailand, 2017
September 4, 2020
Student
Dr lalita Savardekar
Dr Angela Bowen: Her contribution in the field of bioethics will always be remembered. Her drive towards capacity building in bioethics in international scenario via the Western IRB training program has benefited many and has sowed the seeds of bioethics in several ethics committees across the globe.
She is missed
Dr Lalita Savardekar
WIRB fellow
December 29, 2019
Lalita savardekar
Dr Bowen gave us WIRB fellows(international) an opportunity to learn bioethics and the practical learnings have been of tremendous use to us over the years. The six month course at Western IRB made learning so easy and her vigil and motherly care never made us miss home. One of the only and excellent bioethics trainings where the host takes really good care of the students along with instilling bioethics teachings to the core. It's her love and care that made us feel a sense of belonging to the WIRB family. We shall always be indebted to her and she will be forever as our teacher in our hearts.
September 16, 2019
Friend
Sue McCarthy
It had been years since I had seen Angela but hard to believe that she has been gone a year. I can still hear her laugh and remember her wry sense of humor, which I am sure that she is making good use of wherever she is. You will always be loved Angela.
August 30, 2019
Lorraine Davis
I wish I could have known you. Heard so many good things about you over the years.
November 16, 2017
Mary Ann Stark
Just a terrific woman.
September 27, 2017
I knew Angie for nearly 45 years. I had planned to attend the celebration of her life, but found myself dreading it. The only person I wanted to celebrate her life with was Angie. She was in many ways my surrogate mother. As Otto said. When I said, I love you, Angie, she always said,I love you, too, Sarah. I will miss her always. She was one of a kind!
September 26, 2017
Dear Family & Friends,
In June of 1988 I was lucky enough to become a longtime employee and friend of one of the most wonderful individuals I have ever met. Dr. Bowen is a one of a kind...and I thank God for being a part of her life. I will truly miss her.
In loving Memory,
Kathy Burlingame
September 26, 2017
Brad Waite
Angela was my friend and colleague for over 19 years. She set the example for being a caring and thoughtful physician in service to others. Her legacy will carry on through the many Fellows of her training program scattered across the globe, who were taught what it means to protect those who volunteer for research. I will forever be grateful for her wisdom and advice, and we will all miss her greatly.
September 24, 2017
Acquaintance
Gretchen Christopher
How I wish Angela Bowen were still alive that I might know her better, personally and medically. What a remarkable woman! Her life achievements are full and enriching to so many. Reading that she purchased the Olympia Country and Golf Club, in 2012, saving it from financial ruin and ensuring the property would be protected from real estate development in perpetuity, touches me personally, as that acreage on the waterfront was originally owned by my grandfather, the late Albert H. Christopher. I look forward to paying my respects and contributing to the memory of Dr. Bowen by donating to the Center for Healthy Aging at the Virginia Mason Medical Center (in care of the Virginia Mason Foundation, P.O. Box 1930, MS: D1-MF, Seattle, Wash., 98111) and hope others will, too. A worthy cause.
September 21, 2017
Bill & Sue McCarthy
Angela was a friend as well as employer to both of us. She will be remembered for her loyalty, her ethics and her great sense of humor. Her business acumen goes without saying.
To her family and lifelong friends, we offer our condolences. We will miss her too.
Bill and Sue McCarthy
Cape Cod, MA
September 17, 2017
Otto Orive
Two last sentences of my last conversation with Dr. Bowen:
Maria and I love you.
And I love you too Otto
Otto Orive
September 14, 2017
Angela was a wonderful person and will be missed greatly.
Words to describe her...kind, generous, intelligent and blessed with a wonderful sense of humor. She will be missed
Charlie Frank
September 12, 2017
Sarah Reade MD
Angela was my friend and mentor. When I was younger, she offered me a safe haven. I lived with her for nearly two years. She taught me to believe in myself. I will always remember her and be grateful for the gifts that she shared with me.
September 12, 2017
September 12, 2017
Owen Reese
What a great pleasure it was to work closely with Dr. Bowen at WIRB. She was a true innovator with a delightful sense of humor, grace and an unparalleled dedication to human subject protection.
September 12, 2017
Al Jones
She was a wonderful classmate and a real team worker.So sorry to learn of her passing.
September 12, 2017
David Harvey
A very successful and loved family member. We will all miss her.
September 11, 2017
Teresa Miller
It was an honor to have worked for Dr. Bowen. Her dedication to safe clinical trials was incredible, and helped countless patients. She will be truly missed.
September 11, 2017
John McNeill
It was an honor to have worked with and for Dr. Bowen as a panel member for the Western Institutional Review Board. She was an extraordinary person-warm,cordial, friendly and helpful but with very strong opinions on medical practice amd medical ethics. I learned a great many things from her and have used them productively in my own career. She will be greatly missed by many people.
September 11, 2017
James Riddle
A true visionary in the field of Human Subject Protections. Your leadership will be missed.
September 11, 2017
She was probably one of the best doctors I ever had. She really did listen and had answers that made sense to me. She was a great lady. Not enough like her.
September 11, 2017
Marie McFarland
I met Dr. Bowen through my employment and my friendship with a close friend of hers. I have never met a more incredible person, amazingly intelligent woman and a phenomenal physician and businesswoman. In addition, a woman with the highest degree of integrity and ethics I have ever known. She was a very caring and interested employer in all those who showed her respect, and I knew of no one who didn't. She will be missed on so very many levels.
Respectfully and most sincerely,
September 11, 2017
Elaine Dodd
Angela was my doctor many years ago and helped me to get healthy again. She was warm and kind and we had many discussions and some laughs about our animals. I remember how she was so dedicated to helping others. What an amazing woman and physician, she will be missed.
September 10, 2017
We are deeply saddened by your loss. May God provide comfort and peace to your family during your difficult time. May the love of family and friends carry you through your grief.
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