Zel comes from a pioneering family that traveled to California by covered wagon to homestead in the 1890s.  Zel’s father was taught the blacksmithing trade by his father, who had taken his blacksmithing skills to help build the Suez Canal before he married.  Her paternal grandparents pulled up stakes in North Dakota for farming opportunities in California where they grew grapes on rich farmland near Modesto, in California’s San Joaquin Valley.

Zel’s childhood was bookmarked by the Depression and WWII. She grew up on the family farm, tending to cows, chickens and pets. She spent summers working in local cutting sheds, pitting fruit to be dehydrated.  Modesto was small, and she rode her bike around town, took piano and clarinet lessons and played in the marching band.  Her family was active in the 1^st Christian Church. Zel’s father came from a large family so holidays were spent with lots of cousins, aunts and uncles. 

Zel’s parents expected their children to go to college, and she started at Modesto Junior College before transferring to Fresno State College where she considered education studies. Deciding that teaching was not for her, Zel went to work for Blue Cross.  A co-worker suggested that being a flight attendant would be more exciting, so Zel applied and got a job with United Airlines with a base in New York City.  One of her roommates introduced Zel to a businessman who was traveling through New York.  Bill Bulow, a chemist, had worked during WWII for the Manhattan project at the Hanford Site and later in Los Alamos, N.M.  Zel and Bill got job transfers to Denver and were married at Montview in 1955 by Rev. Arthur Miller. 

In 1968, the Bulows moved to Chicago where Bill reestablished his own company specializing in the manufacture of ink for newspapers.  Together, Zel and Bill had three daughters and a son.  In 1985, Zel and Bill retired to Albuquerque where they lived for 18 years.  They enjoyed entertaining, golfing, playing bridge and traveling to Europe, Russia, China, Australia, New Zealand and Africa. 

Bill passed away at age 91, and Zel returned to Denver in 2013 to be near her daughter.  Zel has six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren living in Texas and California. Zel renewed her membership at Montview, became active in the knitting group and developed Montview friendships.

About two years ago, at the urging of her family, Zel moved into Brookdale Park Place where she enjoys the socializing (when life is more normal), keeps up with national and world news, continues to enjoy good health, walks about a mile each day and stays in touch with family.  She feels that her family and Montview have been anchors for her, and she tunes in regularly to the Montview Sunday services. 

– Submitted by Brooke Durland