Notes:
Virginia Beach - Lee Bowman Moomaw, of Virginia Beach, passed away peacefully on March 29th. Best known for her horticultural contributions to the community, Lee envisioned the Marsh Walk at the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center, helped found the Virginia Native Plant Society, volunteered at the Norfolk Botanical Garden, and served on the Virginia Beach Beautification Committee and the Flower Guild of First Presbyterian Church.
Born to Florence Huff Bowman and Joseph Price Bowman of Roanoke, Virginia, Lee graduated from Bridgewater College and taught school in the Roanoke area. In 1950, she marred the love of her life, William Hugh Moomaw, who was then a doctoral candidate at the University of Virginia. Their marriage was a most happy one for sixty-one years until Hugh passed away and would take Lee on a life-long journey of wonderful experiences around the world.
From Ashland, Virginia, as wife of a Randolph Macon College Professor, to London with Hugh's Fulbright Scholarship and service to the U.S. Educational Commission, back to Virginia as spouse of Stratford College President in Danville, and finally to Virginia Beach as wife of the Headmaster of Cape Henry Collegiate School, where she served as Librarian, Lee embraced all of her roles with energy and enthusiasm.
Lee had a fervent desire to conserve, through education, the native flowers and plants of Virginia. Through her work with the Virginia Beach Garden Club, Lee and her garden club committee turned the Marsh Walk project at the Virginia Aquarium into a reality and the Native Plant Garden soon followed. The culminating recognition of the establishment of these habitats was the Garden Club of America Founders Fund Award which provided a generous grant to fund the Coastal Woodland Retreat envisioned by Lee and the Virginia Beach Garden Club. Lee tended her own garden in Bay Colony with love and care. Her garden was open frequently for tours and events and you may find an artist or two painting there. One thing she loved best about her garden was the sharing of plants with friends and neighbors. Lee's dedication to horticulture and conservation earned her awards from the Garden Club of America, the Garden Club of Virginia, and the Virginia Beach Garden Club.
Lee's passion for gardening was only surpassed by her love of family and friends. She will be greatly missed for her warmth, sincerity, caring spirit, giving nature, and sense of fun. She truly was happiest when doing things for others and was simply the best mother in the whole world.
Lee is pre-deceased by her beloved husband, William Hugh Moomaw. She is survived by her son, William Hugh Moomaw, Jr. and his wife, Teri Penrod Moomaw of Woodbury, Minnesota and her daughter Susan Moomaw Moring and her husband, Platte Boyd Moring III, of Allentown, Pennsylvania. Grandchildren are Katie Moomaw Boardman, Bailey Moomaw, Molly Moomaw, Leigh Moring, and William Moring. Jack Ryan Boardman is her great grandson.
A service to celebrate Lee's life is planned for Wednesday, June 13th at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel of First Presbyterian Church, Virginia Beach. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Lee's memory can be made to the Virginia Beach Garden Club, c/o Mrs. Cheryl Jordan, 115 81st Street, Virginia Beach, Virginia, 23451 or to First Presbyterian Church, 300 36th Street, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23451.
[Published in The Virginian Pilot on June 6, 2018]