Bill E. Bowman

Bill E. Bowman, 79, of Bedford, died Sunday, February 11, 2007 at Donahoe Manor Nursing Home.  He was born October 1, 1927 at Plainville, IN, son of the late Claude and Nora Pauline (Holt) Bowman.  On January 30, 1971 in Bedford, he married Carol Dauler Lee Bollman who survives along with two daughters, Andrea Denise Bowman wife of Eugene Mathias of Havre de Grace, MD, and Cynthia Jo Bowman wife of Daniel W. Lee of Bel Air, MD, one step-daughter, Marina Gisele Bollman Link widow of Paul Gary Link of Bedford and a step-son, Mark Girard Bollman married to the former Christina L. Smith of Bedford, five grandchildren, Jami Melissa Spell of Havre de Grace, MD, Leslie Nicole Mathias of North East, MD, Shannon Alexa  Link, Marc Gillan Bollman, and Evan Alexander Link all of Bedford, one great grandson, and many nieces and nephews, sister, Jeanette Olive widow of George Young of Indianapolis, IN, brother, Owen Emerson Bowman married to the former Leila Hart of North Lewisburg, OH, sister, Claudene widow of Clarence Gross of Washington, IN, sister, Pauline widow of Merle Chaney of Owensburg, IN, sister, Jesse Eleanor wife of Fred Hart of Indianapolis, IN, brother, Byron Elmore Bowman married to the former Marcella Jean Potts of Bloomington, IN. He was preceded in death by a brother Sheridan Duane Bowman married to the former Vera June Smith of Bedford, two sisters: Madge Watson and Jewel Vonnell Eaton and two infant sons:  William Claude and William Christopher.

Mr. Bowman was a member St. John's United Church of Christ, where he was an Elder and a member of the Choir. He was a member of the Bedford American Legion Post #113 and Bedford Elks Lodge #1707.  He served in the U.S. Army from October 1946 to October 1948; activated from the U.S. Army Reserves in September, 1950, within the 301st Heavy Maintenance Division (Tanks) Ordnance Company.  He was sent to Korea during the Korean War with the 724th Ordnance Battalion, attached to the 24th Infantry Division.  From Korea, he was sent to Japan for more than a year and was discharged on June of 1952, with the rank of Sergeant First Class.

He received the WWII medal, the Occupation Medal (Japan), the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Medal, and the Rifle Marksmanship Medal.  He earned other medals while serving in Korea, but, due to a fire at the headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri, where the Army records were kept many servicemen’s records including his were destroyed.

He owned and operated a service station in Havre de Grace, MD for 17 years.  After moving to Bedford in 1969, he was a district representative for Central Petroleum Company, Cleveland, OH.  From 1970 to his retirement on December 31, 1994, he was employed by the Pa. Department of Welfare at the Bedford County Board of Assistance beginning as a caseworker and retired as a IMW2 Casework Supervisor.

Mr. Bowman enjoyed singing and playing the guitar, dancing, gardening, traveling, his many projects at his residence, his children and grandchildren and the many family gatherings.

Funeral Services:  Friday, February 16, 2007, at 3:00 PM from the St. John's United Church of Christ with the Rev. Paul E. Claycomb and Rev. Joseph R. Puleo officiating.  Burial at Bedford Cemetery.  Friends will be received on Thursday from 2-4 and 7-9 PM, at the Timothy A. Berkebile Funeral Home, in Bedford, and 1 hour prior to the service on Friday at the church.  Those wishing may make contributions in his memory to St. John’s United Church of Christ, 144 West John Street, Bedford, Pa. 15522. Sign our online guest book at www.berkebilefuneralhome.com.