Obituary of Margaret Robinson Flowers

Margaret Robinson Flowers died peacefully in her sleep on February 9, 2013, after enjoying a lovely 87th birthday. Born February 8, 1926 to George and Elizabeth Bolton in the village of Seaton Burn, England, Margaret came to the United States in 1946 as a young war bride. In her new home of San Luis Obispo, California, she worked as an announcer at the local radio station and lent her voice to recorded Shakespeare productions in the Cal Poly drama department. Upon her husband Paul Flowers' graduation from Cal Poly, the couple traveled with their two young daughters, Elizabeth and Georgina, to his first job in Lompoc, California, where their son James was born. Just a year later, when Paul was hired by the Food Machinery Company in San Jose, California, they discovered the Valley of Hearts Delight, and decided to raise their family here. Their last child, Christopher, was born in San Jose. Margaret instilled her own independent thinking and openness to new experiences in her children, and when Christopher was just 2 years old, Margaret took her four children on a voyage to England, where they lived and explored for six months. Once the children were older, Margaret started a new career as a jeweler, and worked in management positions at companies including Granat Brothers and Shreve & Co, and opened several fine jewelry departments for Macy's as they expanded. When Paul retired after a successful career at Lockheed, Margaret also retired from the jewelry business, and they relocated from Santa Clara to their beloved Nevada City, California, where they lived happily for over 20 years. After living in the United States for 51 years, Margaret became an American citizen in 1997; but forever an "English rose," she maintained dual citizenship. Margaret's strong spirit was greatly challenged by the death of her husband Paul and son Christopher in 2007. But she continued to live life to the fullest. Ever the consummate traveler, in 2008 Margaret took a Mediterranean cruise, visiting sites like Pompeii and the Sistine Chapel, which Paul had seen decades before as a young naval officer. Margaret will forever be remembered and loved for her intelligence, beauty, English charm, self-reliance, and sharp sense of humor. She is predeceased by her husband James Paul Flowers and son Christopher Michael Flowers, and is survived by her daughter Elizabeth Flowers Monley and her husband David, daughter Georgina Flowers Wisdom and her husband Sam, and James Paul Flowers, Jr. and his wife Betsey Kosher Flowers. She is also survived by her grandchildren, George Bishop (Monika), Anthony Todaro, Heather Monley, Elizabeth Flowers and Sean Flowers, and by her great grandchildren Aidan and Siena Bishop. She is also survived by her dear cousin Dr. Margaret Spink (Alan) of Berwick-upon-Tweed, England, nieces Gaynor Williams and her children of Darlington, England and June Lindorff of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England. Margaret lived a long and complete life, building memories everywhere she went. A prayer service in her memory will be held at Trinity Cathedral, 81 N. Second Street, San Jose, on February 26 at 10:30 AM. Guests are invited to join the family for refreshments and memories at the home of David and Elizabeth Monley following the service.