However Ralph seemed to lose interest in his business after his wife Helen died, partly because he had made enough money to support his family from investing it. Julia was two years old when her mother died and after this she and her sister Constance were sent to live in a community of about four houses in the Arizona desert. Ralph remarried Edenia Kridelbaugh a year later, retired from his business at this time, and moved with his new wife to Arizona to be with his children.
Ralph Bowman pag-aari ng isang makina at kagamitan ng kumpanya habang Helen had been isang pangunahing paaralan, bago ang kanyang kasal. Subalit Ralph seemed sa mawalan ng interes sa kanyang negosyo matapos ang kanyang asawa namatay Helen, bahagyang dahil siya ay ginawa ng sapat na pera upang suportahan ang kanyang pamilya mula sa pamumuhunan ito. Julia ay dalawang years old kapag namatay ang kanyang ina at pagkatapos na ito siya at ang kanyang mga kapatid na babae Constance ay ipinadala sa mga naninirahan sa isang komunidad ng tungkol sa apat na mga bahay sa Arizona disyerto.