Lydia E. Knecht Sowers, age 91 years, a resident of the Laurel Mountain Road, Elkins, passed away Thursday, February 24, 2011 at her home. She was born June 17, 1919 at Davis, WV a daughter of the late Milton Lloyd and Cora Alice Hinkle Knecht. On March 31, 1956 she was married to Walter Clarence Sowers who preceded her in death on July 4, 1976. Surviving are five children, Charles H. Parsons and wife Cecilia, of Westminster, MD; Gladys C. Evans and husband Robert, of Elkins, with whom she made her home, Virginia R. Parsons, of Elkins, Clifford L. Parsons, Jr., of St. Petersburg FL and Melda C. Callender and husband Howard, of Bel-air, MD. Nine grandchildren, Robert Evans Jr, Christine Gear, Brenda Schmidlen, Lavonne Hamrick, all of Elkins, Neal Galford Jr., Theresa Bien, Daniel Tobin, Sr., all of Baltimore, MD and Mark Parsons, of Spring Grove PA and six great grandchildren also survive. Preceding her in death were three brothers, Raymond, Melvin and Lloyd Knecht; one sister, Nola Norton and one grandson, Matthew Parsons. Mrs. Sowers was a homemaker and a member of the Randolph County Senior Center. She was a Baptist by faith.
Friends may call from 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. on Sunday, February 27, 2011 at the Tomblyn Funeral Home in Elkins. A funeral service will be held at 1:30 P.M. Monday, February 28th from the funeral home chapel with Chaplain Kimberly Short-wolfe, M.A. and Rev. Don Hepler officiating. Interment will follow in the Davis Cemetery at Davis, West Virginia. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions may be made to Mountain Hospice, 1600 Crim Ave., Belington, WV 26250 in memory of Mrs. Sowers. The Tomblyn Funeral Home of Elkins is in charge of the arrangements for Lydia E. Knecht Sowers.
