Obituary - Dorothy Bowen Farleigh
Dorothy Bowen Farleigh, of Henrico, Virginia, passed away peacefully on January 15, 2026. She was born on January 17, 1936, in Portsmouth, Virginia, to the late Harry and Lucille Bowen.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 57 years, Hugh Burgess Farleigh ("Bucky"), her brother, Harry Bowen Jr., her sister, Audrey Brown, and her son-in-law Mike Heppert.
She was a graduate of Maury High School in Norfolk, Virginia and a long-time member of the Order of the Eastern Star. In 1958, Dorothy and Bucky made Richmond their home, where they built a life centered on faith, family, friends and service.
Dorothy is survived by her daughters, Judy Heppert, Susan Inge, and Carol Cashman (Jay); her grandchildren, Ben Heppert, Brett Cashman, Beth Putnam (Mike), Amy Ardy (Chris), Katie Kreamer (Ryan), and Alex Jimenez (Aylie); and ten great-grandchildren, who brought her immense joy.
For many years, Dorothy devoted herself to being a stay-at-home mother, a role she cherished. She was an excellent cook and a talented seamstress. In the mid-1970s, she began a successful career in the insurance industry, working at Markel Corporation, where she retired as a Vice President. She was also very active in the Insurance Women of Richmond, serving in numerous leadership roles, including President.
Dorothy's greatest love was her family and her faith. She and Bucky worked hard to instill their shared values and love of God in their family. They especially treasured their retirement years at their Lake Anna home, which became a favorite gathering place for holidays, summer days, and visits to Lake Anna Winery.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the staff of The Estates at West End for their compassionate care over the past three years, and to Ascend Hospice for their devoted attention and comforting weekly visits.
A memorial service will be held at St. Martin's Episcopal Church, 9000 St. Martin's Lane, Henrico, Va on February 6th at 12:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Martin's Episcopal Church, Maes Mutts (maesmuttsrescue.org) or to a favorite charity.
