Katherine Ann Erwin Bowling, 71, of Austin, TX, was called to her Heavenly Home on January 27, 2015 surrounded by her family in Midland, TX, after a hard-fought battle with brain cancer.Katherine was born on February 19, 1943 in Charleston, West Virginia to Arling H.“Bud” and Melva Erwin. She was a 1961 graduate of St. Albans High School and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, WV. She married William “Ed” Bowling in 1965 and they began their life together in Huntsville, AL, later welcoming a daughter, Karen. The family moved to Austin, TX in 1977.Kathy launched and developed the Westwood Community School in Northwest Austin, offering continuing education to adults and children in the area. Her success with continuing education allowed her to also open and direct campuses for Austin Community College and Texas State University at Westwood High School. She enriched the lives of many with the educational programs she provided.As successful as she was in her career, she was even better at being a lovely person. Kathy was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She had a contagious smile, a caring heart, and a great sense of fun that will be dearly missed and fondly remembered.Left to cherish her memory are her loving husband of 49 years, William “Ed” Bowling; and daughter, Karen Ann Bowling Sparks and husband, Todd, of Midland, TX, grandchildren, Will, Laura Kate, and Libby Ann Sparks, of Midland, TX, sister, Constance S. Erwin of Midland, TX, and brother, Dwight Randal Erwin and wife, Terri, and daughter, Samantha, of Villa Hills, KY, sister-in law, Dianne Bellomy and husband Lacy of Winston-Salem, NC and sister-in-law Gloria Tribou and husband, Dick of Satellite Beach, FL. and four nieces and one nephew. She is preceded in death by her parents, Arling H. “Bud” and Melva Erwin and infant daughter, Elizabeth Bowling.The family will be accepting guests from 6:00-8:00pm at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home in Midland, TX on Friday, January 30th. Graveside Services will be held at Resthaven Memorial Park at 1pm, Saturday, January 31st. A Memorial Service will be held at Hyde Park Baptist Church in Austin on Friday, February 13th at 1:00pm.In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Midland Fair Havens, 2400 Whitmire Blvd. #100, Midland, TX 79705 or Hospice of Midland, 911 West Texas Ave, Midland, TX 79701.Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com ,
