McMinnville resident and Avery County, N.C., native Julia Barlow McGowan, 91, was born July 19, 1923 and died June 3 at NHC Healthcare in McMinnville following an extended illness. A homemaker, she was the daughter of the late William Thomas and Julia Ann Gwyn Barlow. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by husbands, Robert Paul Ward (deceased 1977), Howard Russell (deceased 1987) and Francis McGowan (deceased 2015); and eight siblings, Mary Lou Barlow Oaks, Mattie Virginia Barlow Gaultney, Frank Barlow, Charles Howard Barlow, Myrtle Ray Barlow Wilson, Reign Scoville Barlow, Helen Barlow Siler and John Hodges Barlow.She is survived by five children and their spouses, Robert Ward of Ottawa, Kan., Philip and Nina Ward of Georgetown, Texas, Jann and David Dunn of Maryville, Thomas and Marsha Ward of McMinnville, and Gregory and Sandy Ward of Harriman; and 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.