Dec. 13, 1916 - Dec. 11, 2010

 

Kenneth O. Bowman, 93, of New Carlisle, died Saturday, Dec. 11, 2010, at home. He was born Dec. 13, 1916, at his current home to parents David Lee Bowman and Emma Boone. He went to Bethel High School K-12, where he played basketball, drove a school bus and served on the Board of Education for 16 years. He married Fairy Alberta Scott on Nov. 2, 1941, in Logansport, Ind. He first worked for Nate’s Clothing Store in Dayton, then served during World War II in the Civlian Conservation Corps for two years surveying the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Kenneth was a founding co-owner of Bowman and Landes Turkey Farm, which today is one of the largest poultry operations in the state of Ohio. He was a leader in several poultry industry associations, the Farm Bureau, and served on the Ohio Research and Development Council through The Ohio State University.

Bowman helped found and lead the Bethel Community Civic Association, the Bethel High School Scholarship Committee, Heart Association Drive, the Miami County Park Board and several Miami County Parks, including Charleston Falls. He was a long-time member of Sertoma and he received the International Sertoman of the Year Award in 1992 and the Ohio’s Sertoma Hall of Fame Award in 1998. Bowman was a member of the West Charleston Church of the Brethren.

Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents and older siblings Orville and Ruth Bowman. He is survived by his wife, Fairy Alberta Scott of New Carlisle; children, Sandra K. (Bowman) Ark Dunham and spouse Daniel D. Dunham, Carl D. Bowman and spouse Mary K. Bowman, Anita J. (Bowman) Hamber and spouse David R. Hamber, JoAnn Bowman (Moyer) and spouse Bruce L. Moyer; grandchildren, Raquel Ark Studebaeker and husband Olaf, Lorelei Ark, Adam and Andrew Bowman, Matthew and Jonathan Hamber, Ashley Moyer Price and husband Matthew, and Brittany Moyer; step-grandchildren, William Hamber and wife France, Helen Hamber Rhys and husband Phil; great-grandchildren, Luke Studebaeker, and Hannah, Samuel and Benjamin Hamber.

A memorial celebration service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 18 at the new West Charleston Church of the Brethren, 4817 State Route 202, Tipp City. Arrangements by Trostle Chapman Funeral Home, New Carlisle. Memorial donations may go to the West Charleston Church of the Brethren new building fund at 4817 State Route 202, Tipp City, OH 45371, or to the Tipp City Community Foundation fund for Bethel Township, P.O. Box 626, Tipp City, OH 45371.Expressions of sympathy may be sent to www.trostelchapman.com.