A kind and gentle soul, a gracious and loving lady, Mary Bowen Caputo, entered eternal rest on Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at the age of 100. She was born February 16, 1922 in Burgaw to Stuart Vann Bowen and Katherine Buford Bowen. Mary graduated from Burgaw High School in 1938 as the valedictorian. She went on to graduate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1942 with a degree in journalism. Straight out of college she worked for the News and Views newspaper in Jacksonville, NC. It was while writing a story for the paper that she met Col. Anthony Caputo, her husband of 75 years. Mary lived much of her wonderful and blessed life all over the world with her beloved husband,  Col. Anthony "Tony" Caputo. After living twenty-seven places in her life, Mary was ready to move back home. In their retirement, she and her husband, Tony, moved to Burgaw. They joined right in with the community activities and started many of their own. They joined the congregation of St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Burgaw and when the original building was in disrepair, Mary and Tony were instrumental in building a new one in the town. There Mary taught Sunday school, served on the Vestry and the board of the ECW (Episcopal Church Women), and also ended up as a very long-term substitute organist, which she thought was funny because she had no training at all. Her church was her passion.

Mary was a longtime member of the Pender County Historical Society. She took joy in helping preserve the history of the area and the families who live in Pender County. When a family friend, Fannie Noel Bannerman, decided to sell her house in Burgaw, Mary asked her to donate it for a museum. Mary also wrote and procured a grant for the restoration of the house. For many years, Mary served on the board and as a docent. She spent countless hours at the museum. She called the museum her number one hobby. The Pender County Historical Society created a perpetual award for volunteers in Mary's name. Mary especially enjoyed giving tours to the local school children and speaking in the schools and many clubs in the area.

Mary was also an activist. She and her husband were founding members of the C.O.P. (Citizens of Pender) committee who banded together and successfully blocked the proposal to build a hazardous waste facility in  Pender County. They took part in protests and sit-ins. Being a journalism major from UNC-Chapel Hill, Mary wrote the press releases that helped their fight receive nationwide publicity.

Mary was in the first training class of Hospice volunteers in Pender County. She served six years on the Endowment Fund Board of the Lower Cape Fear Hospice. She was also an active member of the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge Daughters of the American Revolution Chapter.

Filled with kindness, compassion and a Christian spirit, Mary welcomed everyone she met into her wide circle of family and friends. Even in her later  years Mary  remained intellectually and physically active. Her radiant smile and joy in life will be remembered.

Mary is survived by her daughter, Kathryn Caputo Kirk; son, Robert Anthony Caputo and wife Amy; grandchildren, Dayna K. Corcoran and husband, John, Paul Anthony Kirk and wife, Tamara, Christopher Dayton Kirk, Nicholas Anthony Caputo, and Matthew Joseph Caputo; great grandchildren, Connor Corcoran, Quinn Corcoran, Kyra Corcoran, Jude Kirk, and Jacob Kirk; many other extended family members and friends. In addition to her parents Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Col. Anthony Caputo; and brothers, Frank Buford Bowen and Stuart Vann Bowen, Jr.

Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 26, 2022 at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 506 S. McNeil Street, Burgaw, NC with The Rev. Thomas May conducting the service.

Burial will follow in Burgaw Cemetery.

Shared memories and condolences may be sent to the family by selecting Tribute Wall.

Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home of Burgaw.