Obituary for Barbara A. McGowan (Eberth)
EAST FISHKILL - Barbara A. McGowan, 83, a 50-year resident of Hopewell Jct., died on November 27, 2019 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center.
Born on Long Island on January 28, 1936, she was the daughter of John and Margaret (Ford) Eberth. Barbara enjoyed her work as a Banker for Merrill Lynch in Poughkeepsie. She was highly involved in the Rotary Club and was actively engaged in a variety of other community organizations.
Barbara was the Pleasant Valley Rotary Club’s first woman president and held the secretary role for over 17 years. She started the Annual Duck race, which continues to this day, and is always a fun-filled event. Barbara was involved in the club’s Scholarship, Youth Exchange and Rotary Youth Leadership Award Committees and also took part in planning club functions including the annual holiday party.
Barbara was a Brownie leader in the early 70’s where she modeled kindness, creativity and patience for young girls. In the 80’s she was a founding member, and first president, of the John Jay AFS Club, an organization that sponsored foreign exchange students who lived with host families and attended John Jay for the school year. Barbara was also an active participant in the Gayhead school PTA, where she served as Treasurer.
Family was incredibly important to Barbara, and she cherished her children and grandchildren more than anything else in the world. Barbara is survived by her children and their spouses, Susan McGowan and Philippe Jolivalt, Peter and Kathleen McGowan, and Keith and Nancy McGowan; her grandchildren, Nina, Kalin, Kendra, Michael, Katie, and Molly; her brother, John Eberth; and several nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Barbara’s life will be held on January 29, 2020. For more information, please email Susan McGowan at susanjolivalt@hotmail.com or Keith McGowan at knmcgowan@comcast.net; include Barbara McGowan in subject line.
Memorial donations may be made to the Pleasant Valley Rotary Club, PO Box 646, Pleasant Valley, NY 12569.
Born on Long Island on January 28, 1936, she was the daughter of John and Margaret (Ford) Eberth. Barbara enjoyed her work as a Banker for Merrill Lynch in Poughkeepsie. She was highly involved in the Rotary Club and was actively engaged in a variety of other community organizations.
Barbara was the Pleasant Valley Rotary Club’s first woman president and held the secretary role for over 17 years. She started the Annual Duck race, which continues to this day, and is always a fun-filled event. Barbara was involved in the club’s Scholarship, Youth Exchange and Rotary Youth Leadership Award Committees and also took part in planning club functions including the annual holiday party.
Barbara was a Brownie leader in the early 70’s where she modeled kindness, creativity and patience for young girls. In the 80’s she was a founding member, and first president, of the John Jay AFS Club, an organization that sponsored foreign exchange students who lived with host families and attended John Jay for the school year. Barbara was also an active participant in the Gayhead school PTA, where she served as Treasurer.
Family was incredibly important to Barbara, and she cherished her children and grandchildren more than anything else in the world. Barbara is survived by her children and their spouses, Susan McGowan and Philippe Jolivalt, Peter and Kathleen McGowan, and Keith and Nancy McGowan; her grandchildren, Nina, Kalin, Kendra, Michael, Katie, and Molly; her brother, John Eberth; and several nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Barbara’s life will be held on January 29, 2020. For more information, please email Susan McGowan at susanjolivalt@hotmail.com or Keith McGowan at knmcgowan@comcast.net; include Barbara McGowan in subject line.
Memorial donations may be made to the Pleasant Valley Rotary Club, PO Box 646, Pleasant Valley, NY 12569.