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McGuire, Mabel Bowling (Mrs. Douglas)
4/1/2007
MABEL BOWLING MCGUIRE
March 27, 1915 – April 1, 2007
Mabel was born in Durham County, North Carolina, where her father owned and operated two large farms. She was preceded in death by her parents, Bernard P. Bowling and Pryor Bowers Bowling and her brothers B. P. Bowling, Jr. and wife, Verna, and Thaddeus R. Bowling and wife, Temesia.
In her early years, Mabel was an honor student and a champion basketball player, president of the local 4H Club, from which she rose to leadership on State and National levels, while teaching Sunday School and serving as organist in her local church. She later earned her way in undergraduate studies by setting hair for classmates at ten cents a head and then pursued graduate studies in Social Work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Returning to Durham, she was employed as a case worker in the local Welfare Department and eventually became Supervisor of Public Welfare for all of Durham County.
In 1943, Mabel met a theological student in the Duke University Divinity School, Douglas McGuire from Arcadia, Louisiana. One year later, on October 11, 1944, they were married, and for the next sixty-two years they were sweethearts and partners in ministry for Jesus Christ. Their career ranged from a U.S. Navy Chaplaincy during World War II through pastoral appointments in the Louisiana United Methodist Conference to Downsville, founding Grace Church in Ruston, Park Avenue in Shreveport, First Church in Mansfield, Trinity in Ruston, and Broadmoor in Baton Rouge. Between pastorates they served the Baton Rouge, Monroe, and Ruston District Superintendencies. In every circumstance in which they served, Mabel was known and loved as the epitome of a pastor’s wife. Her happy personality, mental agility and dedication to Christ and His Church inspired and challenged all whom she met and came to know. Indicative of this is the fact that, while serving as the Baton Rogue District Superintendent’s wife, Mabel was invited several times by the Broadmoor pastor to participate in various studies and programs. Later when there was to be a change in pastors at Broadmoor, the bishop approached the church about sending the McGuires to serve them. The PPR Committee sent the bishop an official word that, if he would send Mabel, they would take Doug!
She is survived by her husband, Dr. Douglas L. McGuire, her daughters and sons-in-law Sandi and John Hebley of Dallas, Texas; Betsy and Hank Teuton of Williamsburg, Virginia; and Vicki McGuire of Ruston, Louisiana; grandchildren Heidi and Jason Stoddard of Allen, Texas; and Bill and Stephanie Hengstenberg of Sherman Oaks, California; and great-grandsons Joshua and Jacob Stoddard and M. J. Hengstenberg.
Mabel, my darling, Philippians 1:3 says it all: “... I thank my God on every remembrance of you...” Amen.
Douglas L. McGuire
Source: Louisiana Conference Journal, 2007; p. 261.
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