Donna Sowers' Obituary
Donna Sowers, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, went to be with her Lord on the morning of October 18, 2023.
Born in Santa Ana on February 15, 1938, as the only child of Walter and Dorothy Stark, Donna was a popular athlete and friend to many growing up. She graduated from Santa Ana High School. On June 15, 1957, she married Johnny Sowers, the love of her life. They would have celebrated 65 years of marriage this upcoming June.
Donna and Johnny eventually settled in Valley Center where they raised their four children: John, Julie, Jill, and Jason. Julie predeceased her mother in 2017. After the children had grown, Donna returned to college and got her teaching degree. She taught and coached for thirteen years at Valley Center Middle School.
Our mom lived her life with an enthusiasm and a joy that was contagious. Her teaching and coaching reflected this. Additionally, she and our dad were very involved in Young Life ministry. Our mom was most alive when she was engaged through Young Life with adolescent kids. She poured herself into their lives, and many recall that it was Donna who introduced them to Jesus and to the joy of life spent with him. This is her legacy.
She loved her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren equally. She believed in us, sometimes more than we believed in ourselves. She saw the good in us and focused on that. “Nana” thought her grandchildren were geniuses and enormously talented and wished for them only blessings.
Donna also had deep friendships. She was surrounded by a group of women who loved her well and deeply. Her Bible Study compatriots were like the sisters she never had. Especially in these later years, they went out of their way to care for and support Donna.
In these last few years, our mom devoted herself to taking care of our dad. She did this with steadfast love and a hope that came from Jesus.
We will celebrate her life with a memorial service on November 18 at 2:00pm. Because of the graciousness of the Bates family, the service will be held at the pavilion of Bates Nut Farm – one of Donna’s favorite places in the world.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you would make donations to San Diego Young Life in her memory.
What’s your fondest memory of Donna?
What’s a lesson you learned from Donna?
Share a story where Donna's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Donna you’ll never forget.
How did Donna make you smile?