Carole Bowling

Carole Sawyer Bowling passed away peacefully in her sleep after a long illness on Monday, March 16, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas. She was 87 years old.

Born in Sandusky, Ohio to Betty (nee. Kowalk) and Eugene Fout, Carole lost her father at an early age. She grew up moving around the Midwest and South with her mother and stepfather, Gordon Sawyer, who was an air traffic controller. Carole attended Michigan State before transferring to University of Louisville. She was a Chi Omega sorority member. Carole met her husband, Tom, in Louisville, and was married while still in college. While raising their family, the Bowlings moved overseas and around the Mid-Atlantic states. Carole and Tom retired from Washington, D.C. to Albuquerque, NM and lived in the latter for over 20 years. Carole moved to San Antonio to be closer to family as her health worsened. Tom and Carole had 62 happily married years together. He was the love of her life. Together they lived abroad and around the United States and later traveled extensively around the world with numerous adventures. Carole’s faith was important to her. She was an Episcopalian and was involved with parish activities in the many places she lived, serving as lector, an eucharistic minister, and often as a member of the choir. Carole graduated from the Education of Ministry (EfM) program through the University of the South’s Theology School and served as mentor and district coordinator for many years. Carole was a member of the Junior League in several locations, and she joked that she was a professional volunteer. She served food to the unhoused in Washington, D.C., helped build homes in Guatemala, visited AIDS patients, took communion to shut-ins, and served on a Palestinian Peace Commission. She organized and led trips to the Holy Land for several years.

Carole is survived by her children Virginia “Ginger” Shields (Kevin) and Thomas Bowling, Jr. (Michele Genereux). She was the grandmother of Michael Barreda (Christina Barreda), Alanah Madrone, Stella Bowling and Matthew Bowling, Jr.; and great-grandmother to Opal Barreda. She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Bowling, Sr., and youngest son, Matthew Bowling.

Services will be private.

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