Name to a Face: Pamala Bowed - The Ice Cream Lady

Pamala (pronounced Paw-Maul-Uhh) Bowen was born in Blackfoot Idaho to hardworking parents. She was born a high-functioning autistic child but she has never let anything stop her.

Her family moved to Idaho Falls and lived there throughout her school years. When she turned thirteen she became terribly ill. She found out when she was fourteen that she had cancer. She went through emergency surgery and appreciated the world more. She joined her high school cheer squad and was well-regarded by her peers. With her cheery disposition, she made many friends. It helped her through her seventeenth year when she was diagnosed with Epilepsy.

Despite all her medical hardships, Pamala continued to stay happy, working her four jobs during the weekends and any time she had out of school. Even with all the responsibilities, she kept her 3.75 GPA during her years at Hillcrest High School. Her first ever job was at The Sweet Home Buffet which was a little, well-loved seafood buffet.

She was able to work hard and long in order to pay her way through Long Beach college where she vigorously studied baking, pastry, and confectionary arts for two years. Soon after she decided to travel abroad. Pamala visited Mexico, Jamaica, and Belize volunteering and donating wherever she could. During her travels she received her Associate Degree from the Penn Foster Business Management Program.

She returned to the United States, specifically Alaska. She went to her cousin's wedding where she met her husband William Bowen, Jr. They were married at Delmoe Lake and it was around this time that she became a dedicated part of the Whitehall community by joining the direct care staff at Liberty Place where she remained dedicated for ten years. In 2016, she decided to start her own business. Airelle's Patisserie allows Pamala to share her talent in the baking field, creating spectacular wedding cakes, cupcakes, and more. She often sells delectable treats at the farmers market during the summers.

In 2017 she decided to start up A Snack Attack which is where you probably know her best from - the fun ice cream truck cruising around Whitehall.

"There isn't anything better than when I'm driving the ice cream truck, seeing all the happy faces."

All of her business ventures have helped lead her to a non-profit organization called 'B.A.B4.Y', which is dedicated to helping pre-adoption families. She often helps out with community fundraisers as well. In her off-time she enjoys entertaining her friends and family with murder mystery dinners; she would also love to be part of an actors guild. She has a dedication in Margaret McNamara's "Too Many Cooks," a book based off of Disney's Ratatouille.

Pamala loves Whitehall's deep- knit community and as everyone is like a huge family. She hopes that Whitehall will someday capitalize on inner-city tourism, as it has the possibility to be more.