The Sterling Daily Gazette, Sterling, Illinois

January 18, 1946 - Friday, pg 14

DELLA  (Britt)  GOWEN

Funeral of Mrs. Della Gowen Held Wednesday

Obsequies for Mrs. Della Gowen were conducted Wednesday afternoon at the Wheelock Funeral Home with the Rev. Wayne Leighty, pastor of the Rock Falls Methodist Church, officiating. The hymns sung by Orville Yeager were "There Shall Be No Night There" and "Abide With Me."  Mrs. Fern Morrison was the piano accompanist.  Many beautiful floral tributes adornd the church and grave.

Casket attendants were Ray Gilman, Joe Britt, Ralph Britt, Bert Britt, Clyde Hanks and Sgt. John Wessels. The committal was in the Tampico Memorial Cemetery with a large concourse attending.

Out-of-town relatives in attendance were Clyde Gowen of Long Beach, Calif.; Mr. and Mrs. Morris Britt and Mrs. Vincent Britt of Clinton, Ia.;  Elzie Britt of Tampico; Ralph Britt and son Robert of Elgin, and Bert Britt of Dixon.

Sketch of Life

Mrs. Della Gowen was born February 19, 1856, in New Bedford, the daughter of Thomas and Susan Britt.  She passed away January 8, 1946 at Long Beach, Calif., at the home of her son, Clyde Gowen, where she had been making her home for the last year and one-half. She would have been 90 years old had she lived until February 19 of this year.

In 1875 she was united in marriage to William Gowen. To this union one son was born, Clyde E. Gowen of Long Beach, Calif.  A home was established in Tampico and later they moved to Rock Falls, then to Chicago where they lived for many years.  Later they returned to Rock Falls where Mrs. Gowen had lived for 35 years, her husband having passed away September 22, 1924.

Mrs. Gowen was a woman of sterling character and always derived great pleasure in helping her friends. She was known to many as "Aunt Dody."  She was a devout member of the Methodist Church and attended when able. Left to mourn besides her son are three stepsons, Dr. Guy Gowen of Chicago, Roy Gowen of South Carolina, and George Gowen of Canada; one brother, T. E. Britt of Tampico; also one grandson, Robert Gowen of Long Beach, Calif.;  a step grandson, Dr. Howard A. Gowen of Ann Arbor, Mich.; several great grandchildren and many relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by four brothers and three sisters, William Britt, Heaman Britt, John Britt, Spencer Britt, Harriett Collier, Lottie Orr and Nancy Lee.