Betty Jean (Bowles) Hope

Mrs. Betty Jean Bowles Hope, 78, of Statesville, passed away Tuesday, September 19, 2017, at Iredell Memorial Hospital. Mrs. Hope was born in Iredell County on January 16, 1939, and was the daughter of the late Thomas Guy Bowles and Ottie Head Bowles.  She was a graduate of Central High School and in 1959, she married Kenneth Parks Hope, who preceded her in death on April 24, 1992. She was a member of Rocky Hill Baptist Church where she served on the building committee and was a member of the Sisters in Stitching Quilting Club of Rocky Hill.  She had perfect attendance in Sunday school for an undetermined number of years. Mrs. Hope retired in 1982 from Flexnit Ind. and following the death of her husband, she worked as property owner and manager for as long as her health allowed. Mrs. Hope was an all-state high school basketball player.  During her high school career as a Central Comet, she averaged 68 points per game.  On February 1, 1955, she scored 88 pts against Celeste Hinkle and in 1957, she played in the North Carolina All Star game in Aberdeen, NC.  A very important time in her life was when she was offered a basketball scholarship to play at Virginia Tech but chose instead to stay home and marry the love of her life, Kenneth Hope. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Teresa Hope Nash. Left to cherish her memory is her son, Tim Hope of Statesville and a granddaughter, Myranda Hope Nash of Winona, MN.  She is also survived by one sister, Helen Fulbright, two brothers, Gilbert Bowles (Doris) and Cecil Bowles (Brenda), and a special niece, Nancy Fulbright, all of Statesville.  She is further survived by a number of nieces and nephews. Funeral services honoring the life of Betty Hope will be conducted at 11:00 am Saturday, September 23, 2017, at Rocky Hill Baptist Church with Rev. Henry Cook and Pastor Lee Boggs officiating.  Burial will follow in the church cemetery.  The family will visit with friends Friday evening from 6:00 until 8:00 PM at Rocky Hill Baptist Church. Memorials may be made to Rocky Hill Baptist Church, 823 Mountain View Rd, Statesville, NC 28625. Online condolences can be made to the family at www.nicholsonfunerals.com and Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the family of Betty Jean Bowles Hope.