Susan "Emma" Emily Bowlen

Susan Emily “Emma” Bowlen, aged 26, passed away on July 28, 2026, at her residence in Bloomington, Indiana. Emma was born at Bloomington Hospital on April 1, 2000, the daughter of Libra “Lee” Wagoner Bowlen and Greg Bowlen. Emma earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Indiana University-Bloomington in May 2022, and was graduated With Highest Distinction. Among her many academic achievements and accolades, Emma entered IU as a Direct Admission Scholar, and was named an Adam W Herbert Presidential Scholar, an Arthur R Metz Scholar, and a Provost Scholar. Emma was graduated from Bloomington High School South in 2018 with an Academic Honors diploma, and had been inducted into the National Honor Society and designated an AP Scholar with Honor. Emma began her professional career in May 2024 at Centerstone’s Stride Center. Emma’s most recent role at Stride was IU Mobile Liaison for the Mobile Crisis Support team. While still working at Stride, Emma began a course of study in Accounting at Indiana University-Kokomo in January 2026, and was named to the Chancellor’s List for academic achievement in May 2026. Emma loved ballet, and all things ballet-related brought her incredible joy – dancing and performing, going to see live ballet performances with friends and family, and celebrating World Ballet Day. Emma began attending classes as a young girl at Windfall Dancers in Bloomington, and then moved on to study in the pre-professional program at the Indiana University Ballet School. As a teenage dancer, Emma was selected to participate in numerous summer intensive programs, including those at IU Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, and at Florida Dance Theatre in Lakeland, Florida. She was cast in IU Ballet’s productions of The Nutcracker for multiple seasons in roles including mouse and soldier. More recently, Emma attended weekly ballet classes at Windfall and was so happy to have resumed dancing on pointe. Emma chose to become a vegan at an early age and she was a talented cook. One of her favorite foods was home fries with hot peppers from both The Runcible Spoon and Michael’s Uptown Café. Emma loved sorbet and always had a few flavors in her freezer and she also enjoyed the sorbets offered at The Chocolate Moose. Emma had a close “home group” of friends who regularly gathered for social events – such as going out to eat at favorite restaurants and attending food and music events at Switchyard Park. Emma was a passionate music fan and she especially loved Beastie Boys, Fiona Apple, and Pink Floyd. Emma's most recent interest was learning to knit. Emma was deeply loved and will be forever missed. Emma is survived by her father, Greg Bowlen, and her grandmother, Nancy Gorman Bowlen, both of Bloomington; uncle Robert Bowlen and his wife Carole, and uncle Roger Bowlen and his wife Beth, all of Bloomington; aunt Lisa Wagoner and her husband David Schroeder of Indianapolis; uncle Justin Wagoner and his wife Quynh of Fountain Valley, CA; aunt Katherine Griffin and her husband Jon Bachmann of Los Angeles, CA; aunt Susie Griffin Tempest of Liberty, MO; great aunt Lou Griffin of Erlanger, Kentucky; great aunt Lizzie Griffin of Tucson, Arizona; cousins Trent, Amanda, Joey, Griffin, Thomas, Hazel, Mylan, Haily, and Roman; dear friends and a loving community in Bloomington; and by her beloved cat, Bean. Emma was preceded in death by her mother, her maternal grandparents, her paternal grandfather, her uncle David Bowlen, and by her great aunt Becky Griffin Appelman. A celebration of Emma’s life will be held on Saturday October 10, 2026, from 3 pm to 6 pm at the Windfall Dancers Studio at 1101 N Dunn Street in Bloomington. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Emma’s memory may be made to Windfall Dancers, Inc. (windfalldancers.org/friends-of-windfall) and to Middleway House (middlewayhouse.org/donate)

Susan "Emma" Emily Bowlen

April 1, 2000 - July 28, 2026