Trena Sue Thomas Bowman

Trena Sue “Nana” (Thomas) Bowman

November 4, 1948-June 22, 2026

Our beloved mother, Trena S. Bowman, of Roanoke, Virginia, passed away peacefully in the late evening hours of June 22, 2026, after a beautiful life of 77 years. We hold her up in love and light, and celebrate her spirit as a generous mother, grandmother, sister, and friend.

Trena was born on November 4, 1948 in Roanoke, and grew up there, the first of two children of Roscoe H. and Shirley F. Thomas, fun-loving and spirited parents who raised their children to love God, appreciate his bounty, and to share that spirit with others. They instilled in Trena a gentle goodness and integrity that guided her throughout her life. Trena graduated from Patrick Henry High School, Class of 1966, married, and soon dedicated her life to family.

Trena was steadfast in raising her two children, Christine and Ray, and she fostered a connection with nature and a deep love for the family unit. For her children, she modeled lessons in resilience, independence, patience, and self-sacrifice. Her passion for gardening exemplified these lessons as she learned to cultivate and nurture successful crops of vegetables that fed her family, particularly enjoying green beans, tomatoes, carrots, and corn, to be canned or preserved for winter. She left us fond memories of summer mornings spent harvesting an abundance of beans and “peeping” through the corn field, catching June bugs, and picking jam berries or peaches. Evenings of fireflies, night birds, and stargazing on the porch balanced our day’s labor.

Trena’s love for horticulture extended to flower gardening and nurturing her seasonal plants throughout the year. She was talented at creating a pollinator friendly space with stunning lavender, astilbe, salvia, and coneflowers. She nurtured the delicate and dramatic dahlia, meticulously caring for the bulbs through their yearly overwintering and careful planting. Her joy could be evidenced in the dramatic blooms, symbolic of her own elegance and inner strength, and she took pride in sharing bouquets of glory with others.

Trena’s pride and joy were her three granddaughters: Elsa, Ivy, and Jaden. Always the sunshine of her life, the girls would fill her home with music and stories, explore trinkets and baubles, eat pancakes, laugh at the antics of Nana’s beloved King Charles Cavalier, Bella, pick blooms, bring friends, visit and sip tea on the porch swing. Her connection to the girls is eternal, and the light she emanated for generosity, kindness, and elegance is carried forward in each of their hearts.

Trena exhibited a strong work ethic, busying herself with projects to improve her home or support her family. Throughout the years, Trena worked outside the home and spent most of her career in the banking industry, eventually retiring from Wells Fargo Wealth Management Services. She explored genealogy, taught herself to knit and sew, developed an eye for antiques, refurbished vintage pieces, and maintained a thriving eBay business.

Trena was devoted to her family and her faith. She was an active member of Colonial Presbyterian Church. A gentle, caring soul, she led a quiet, private, but rich life. Her generosity of spirit radiated in her commitment to her loved ones. Sorely missed will be our daily “coffee chats” in the early mornings before the workdays began, and our celebrations on Nana’s porch, with the comforts of macaroni salad, peach cobbler, or homemade cakes. Additionally, many of her final years were spent caring for her mother who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. She was a loving and supportive daughter, a dedicated mother, a joyful grandmother, and a patient friend. She will never be forgotten as someone who was always there for you.

Trena was preceded in death by her father Roscoe Helem Thomas Jr. and her mother Shirley Gwendolyn Fogle Thomas. Trena is survived by her children, Christine Marie Howell (Isak) and Raymond H. Bowman Jr. (Cynthia); her three granddaughters, Elsa Howell, Ivy Howell, and Jaden Bowman; and her brother, Roscoe H. “Tom” Thomas III (Pam), and nieces Courtney Thomas Paynter (Tim) and Lauren Meredith Thomas (Scott). 

A memorial service at Sherwood Memorial Park’s Scatter Garden in Salem, Virginia, is scheduled for Saturday, July 18 at 9:00 a.m.

 In lieu of flowers or gifts, those wishing to make contributions in Trena’s memory may consider donating to one of the following:

• The Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation (https://www.cholangiocarcinoma.org/ways-to-give/) to assist in making advancements in research and support ongoing advocacy and awareness.
• LEAP (Local Environmental Agriculture Project) (https://webforms.eleoonline.com/FormDatas/234/9ccdc271-f39e-42b1-955d-f234602fd075) to support a sustainable local food systemin Roanoke.

Arrangements by Conner-Bowman Funeral Home & Crematory, 62 VA Market Place Drive, Rocky Mount, VA 24151. (540)334-5151