Ray Samuel Bowman

Ray S. Bowman, 90, of North Manchester, died Monday, May 23, 2011 at Timbercrest Healthcare. He had been ill for two weeks. He was born September 25, 1920 in Roanoke, Virginia, to the late Luther Daniel and Loulie Mary (Webster) Bowman. He married Lydia Mae Yoder on July 26, 1949 in New Paris. She died January 16, 2004. He later married Ruth (Graham) Lyons on June 25, 2005. She survives. Also surviving are a daughter, Ruth (Lewis) Middleton of Noblesville; two sons, David R. (Madonna) Bowman of Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin and Robert C. Bowman of Cincinnati, Ohio; six grandchildren; three great-grandsons; two step-daughters; two step-grandchildren; five step-great-grandchildren; two brothers, J. Harlan Bowman of Boones Mill, Virginia, Chester L. (Eleanor) Bowman of Bridgewater, Virginia; a half brother, Mitchell (Bobbie) Bowman of Fincastle, Virginia, and two half sisters, Barbara (Joseph) Hopkins of McLean, Virginia, and Wanda (Thomas) Crickenberger of Salem, Virginia. He was preceded in death by two brothers, James Orville and Archer Bowman and a sister, Estelle Craig. A New Paris resident from 1951-1988, Mr. Bowman worked for 34 years at New Paris Creamery, retiring in 1985. He had volunteered as a scout master in New Paris. A member of Manchester Church of the Brethren and a former member of the New Paris Church of the Brethren, he did Civilian Public Service in Florida and Pennsylvania during WWII. He was a sea going cowboy for the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation program after WWII, taking horses to Europe. He attended Virginia Tech and Manchester College, both for two years. Friends may call 9 to 10 a.m., Saturday, June 18, 2011, at the Timbercrest Chapel, North Manchester, where a memorial service will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. with Associate Pastor Karen Eberly of the Manchester Church of the Brethren officiating. Burial of cremains will be in the Manchester Church of the Brethren Memorial Garden. Memorial contributions may be made to the Manchester Church of the Brethren or Timbercrest's Charitable Assistance Program. Yoder-Culp Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.