Clara VonCanon Bowles, age 96, of Carthage, passed away peacefully at her home on Friday, January 16, 2026, while her family was with her.
A native of Moore County, she was a daughter of the late F.W. and Margaret McCaskill VonCanon. Clara graduated from business school and went to work at Sanford Furniture as a clerk. She was also a homemaker while her children were young. She worked in the lunchroom at Carthage Elementary School for several years, and in the 1980’s she worked as an office assistant for the Town of Carthage. After that, she became a caretaker for her husband, Robert Bowles, until his passing in 1994.
In addition to her husband, Clara was preceded in death by her brothers, Whit and John VonCanon; her sisters, Alice Cotton, Beth Buchanan, Jean Hilton, Julia Rose, Peggy Wyatt; and her grandson, Eric Bowles.
She is survived by: her children, Bethany Harper and husband Kenneth, Richard Bowles, and Susan Bowles, all of Carthage; grandchildren, Adam Bowles and Christopher Harper (Sumer); great-grandchildren, Aiden and Andrew Harper.
Funeral services were on Monday, January 19th, at Carthage United Methodist Church.
Services entrusted to Fry & Prickett Funeral Home.
Online condolences: PinesFunerals.com
