Gertrude Agnes Howden was born in Kensington, London, in 1874. She married Roderick Dow in 1895 in Kensington. Roderick’s father was James Ramsay Dow of the Port makers and importers of the same name that still exists today. The couple had two children, Muriel and Leslie. In 1911, the family was living at "Lowood", Hasketon, Suffolk.

During the Great War, Gertrude served extensively with the local Red Cross between September 1914 and March 1916, contributing two thousand nine hundred and twenty-eight hours as a volunteer holding the post of quartermaster at Foxborough Hall.

Gertrude died in Surrey in June 1951.