Louise McKay Stowell, 88, of Birmingham, AL, formerly of Newark, DE, passed away Wednesday, March 16, 2016.
Born August 11, 1927 in Philadelphia, PA, Louise was the daughter of the late John Gunning McKay, Sr. and Sarah Edith (Yorke) McKay. She was raised in Drexel Hill, PA and attended the Upper Darby school system. She graduated in 1946 and continued her education at Wesley Jr. College. Louise worked at the high school she had attended until she married Edwin D. Stowell, Jr. on June 10, 1950. After her four children were settled in school, Louise found work in the Medical Records department of Delaware State Hospital. She and her husband packed the family and moved to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania in East Africa from 1967 to 1969 where he taught for the African American Institute. Louise loved to travel and while in Africa she was able to visit many of the national game parks with family in tow. After their retirement, Louise and Ed were able to do some traveling, including visiting the families of their children. She enjoyed reading, attending churches in the communities in which they lived, bowling, playing bridge, and the theatre organ concerts at Dickinson High School. She played the organ and had the opportunity to play the historic Alabama Theatre organ.
Louise is survived by her daughter, Deborah Lynn Stowell of Newark, DE; son, Edwin Derry Stowell, III and wife, Mary of Birmingham, AL; son-in-law, Edward G. Wright, husband of the late Amanda Mae Wright of Virginia Beach, VA; and son, Richard Gunning Stowell and wife, Reni of Spring, TX. She is also survived by 7 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.
Including her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband, Edwin “Ed” Derry Stowell, Jr.; daughter, Amanda Mae Wright; sister, Helen Jane McKay Stinson; and brother, John G. McKay, Jr.
The family had coordinated a memorial service that will be held on April 3, 2016 at 5:30pm at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, 200 Marrows Road, Newark, DE 19713. In lieu of flowers the family asks you to make a donation to the charity of your choice in her honor.