Individual Details

Neta BOWLBY was born 12 April 1895 in Findlay OH. She married Ralph W. LAWRENCE 23 Aug 1919. She died 23 Mar 1926 in Bristol PA. She died shortly after the birth of her only child, a son, who was raised by her mother, Charlotte.**

Obituary (The Findlay Morning Republican, 24 Mar 1926, pg. 2):
FORMER RESIDENT OF FINDLAY DIES
Mrs. Ralph LAWRENCE, 31, Passes Away in Hospital at Bristol, Pa.
Mr. and Mrs. Stanley LAWRENCE, 209 East Hardin street, received word last evening of the death of their daughter-in-law, Mrs. Ralph W. LAWRENCE, well known in Findlay, in a Bristol Pa., hospital. Her death followed an illness of three weeks. She was 31 years old.
Mrs. LAWRENCE was formerly Miss Neta BOWLBY and had lived in Findlay her entire life until last November, when Mr. LAWRENCE was transferred to Bristol, Pa., by the Refiners' Outlet company, by whom he is employed. She was for several years cashier of the Majestic theatre, and was for a short time its manager. For the past several years she had served relief duty at the theatre.
Mrs. LAWRENCE was born in Findlay April 12, 1895, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. D. BOWLBY. She was married to Ralph W. LAWRENCE AUG 23, 1919, who survives. There is an infant son, James William, three weeks old. Mrs. Harry RUSCH, 438 Center Street, is a sister. and Russell BOWLBY, St. Clair, MI, is a brother. The body will be brought to Findlay for the funeral, the arrangements for which have not been made.

>From Ruth BOWLBY CARLETON (excerpt from autobiography):
As I grew older, I was my Aunt Neta's "adopted" daughter. When with her, I was "little May." She took me shopping [at Marshall Field's in Chicago I modeled a French dress] was given it for my labors. I see it now — straight up [down, light blue in a soft material with embroidery at the top] down one side. Aunt Neta [ Uncle Ralph LAWRENCE were in show business, operating a string of theaters, in Ohio mostly. They wanted to put me on the stage but I was a shy child] wouldn't hear of it. But I was taken back stage some-where that I remember, because they had set up a bedroom scene to go on the stage after a movie showing, [for many years I really thought that what I saw on the screen was being enacted on the stage behind it! Aunt Neta gave me lots of presents. The ones I remember most were material to make a dress -- cresonne with bird pictures on it —] candy from New Orleans in various flower shapes. My days as Little May ended when my aunt died soon after her little boy was born. I was very ill at the time, just barely surviving pneumonia, [I do not believe I was actually told of her death —] yet I knew. My grandmother [grandfather took [their grandson]] raised him as if he were their own child.

(Note: Comments in [brackets] are from me.)

Birth	12 APR 1895	Findlay, Hancock Co., OH
Marriage	23 AUG 1919 or 28 AUG 1919	Ralph W. LAWRENCE
Death	23 MAR 1926	during childbirth - Bristol, Bucks Co., PA
Burial		Maple Grove Cem., Findlay, Hancock Co., OH

Spouse	Ralph W. LAWRENCE ( - )
Child	James William LAWRENCE (1926 - )

Father	Roland/Rolland DeVere BOWLBY (1867 - 1948)
Mother	Charlotte Blanch LOMBARD (1873 - 1970)
Sibling	Russell DeVere BOWLBY (1892 - 1973)
Sibling	Doris May BOWLBY (1898 - 1983)

Notes