Mrs. Margaret Rose Bowden, 90, of Chincoteague Island, passed away peacefully on Feb. 16, 2026.
Margaret was known as “The Queen” on the island with her royal wave. She was born Sept. 7, 1935, in Cheltenham, England, United Kingdom, to the late Arthur and Beatrice Phillips.
Margaret was a “work bride.” The story goes: One snowy wintry night, Margaret (who was 15 at the time) was at home when her stepbrother brought in a GI named Ed Bowden for a hot dinner. When Margaret looked up to see the GI in his Army uniform, she fell out of her chair and hit her head (she still had the bump). She thought he was the best-looking Yank she ever saw, and the rest was history for 64 years.
Margaret Bowden married the late Edward Bowden on Nov. 15, 1952.
Margaret is survived by her daughter, Sharon Ellis and her husband Grady Ellis; her granddaughter, Jan Merritt and her “husband” Paul Chamberland; two great-grandsons, Paul and Joshua; her sister-in-law whom she loved like a sister, Shirley (Bowden) Scarbrough; and her sister-in-law, Ethel Bowden.
From her “English family,” she still has two nieces and a nephew in England, a niece in Canada, and seven other nieces and nephews.
Special mentions to all of Margaret’s friends who brought food to her, took her for a ride, took her to the store, called to check on her, came for a visit, and sat with her at McDonald’s. The family would like to give you all a big thank-you.
Margaret was a loving mother, and her family was blessed to have her live 90 years. She was a best friend, a confidante, and a shopping buddy. Margaret’s mind was very sharp and she was her daughter’s memory bank. She and her daughter never argued; they saved that for Ed. They loved talking and laughing together, even though she didn’t hear half the time.
Margaret was a typical housewife, cooking, cleaning, and taking care of little Sharon.
She cleaned rooms at The Grandview Tourist Home on Chincoteague (which was long gone by the 1970s).
Margaret liked to do ceramics, crosswords, put puzzles together, read, and most of all, she loved her little flip phone that she used to talk to about 30 of her “Speed Dial Friends.”
Margaret also leaves behind her special little dog, Sparky. He was her ears, her protector, her everything. He is a good puppy (not!). She loved that little fellow.
Margaret will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Her loved ones are going to miss her smile, her pretty green eyes, her laugh, her hugs, her kisses, and most of all her saying, “I love you!”
Love you, Mom. Tell Dad, “Hi.”
There will be a funeral service at 2 p.m. with a viewing one hour prior on Friday, Feb. 20, at Salyer Funeral Home, Inc., on Chincoteague Island.
Condolences may be made online at www.salyerfh.com
Services were entrusted to Salyer Funeral Home, Inc., on Chincoteague Island, VA.
