Barbara "Bubbles" (Smith) Nowlin

Barbara Louise “Bubbles” Nowlin passed away on August 28, 2023, in Hillsboro, Texas. She was born July 23, 1928, in Bynum, Texas to Ennis and Louise Smith. Funeral service will be Friday, September 1, at 2:30 p.m. with Roy Barrett officiating, Visitation will be on Thursday, August 31, from 5:30 - 7:00 pm. Both will be at Marshall and Marshall Funeral Directors in Hillsboro. A private family graveside service will follow at Brandon/Bynum Cemetery.

“Bubbles” grew up in Bynum. After graduating from Bynum High School, she attended Hillsboro Junior College where she met Clyde Nowlin. They were married on August 21, 1947, and were married for 67 years before Clyde’s death in 2015. Bubbles stayed busy raising four children on their farm in Bynum.

She was a star basketball player at Bynum High. Her team was the consolation winner at the state basketball tournament her junior year. She also played basketball at Hillsboro Junior College. It impressed her grandchildren that she was a collegiate athlete. Her love of basketball continued throughout her life. The family knew not to interrupt her during Women’s March Madness. She also watched all the Texas A&M football games, wearing her Aggie t-shirt on game days.

She was a member of Bynum Church of Christ most of her life and then Hillsboro Church of Christ. She was active in the Les Causeuses Club in Hillsboro. She and Clyde enjoyed volunteering at the Cell Block Museum for many years.

She is survived by her sister, Puffy Davis, of North Richland Hills, her children: Sheila Knox and husband, Bob, of Bandera, Ronnie Nowlin and wife, Lesa, of Bynum, Donnie Nowlin and wife, Paula, of Elm Mott and Kennie Nowlin and wife, Jennifer, of Whitney. She had ten grandchildren: Wendy Foltz, Chris Schronk, Taylor Weatherby, Liza Nowlin, Jackson Nowlin, Diane Nowlin, Amanda Martinez, Amy Morris, Elisa Brantly and Bethany Reid. She is also survived by 13 great-grandchildren.

The family wants to express its appreciation to Wesley House Assisted Living and Alamo Hospice for all the compassionate care they provided to “Bubbles.”

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hillsboro Church of Christ, P.O. Box 733, Hillsboro, TX 76645 or Brandon/Bynum Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 111, Brandon, TX 76628.