Bobby Earl Bowman

Bobby Earl Bowman, a resident of New Castle, Indiana died on Saturday, December 23, 2023 at Glen Oaks Health Campus. He was born on November 21, 1927 in Boone County, Indiana, a son of the late Mark and Georgia Bowman.

He was married to Margaret Ann Yates on September 4, 1949. They enjoyed their travels together. His wife Margaret, daughter Carol Bowman Lee and sister Laura Pearl Dodson preceded him in death.

He was a 1945 graduate of Lebanon High School, served in the U.S. Air Force and attended Indiana University. He was in the furniture and appliance business all of his working life, first at Gray Furniture Company in Whiteland, Indiana, Frigidaire Division of General Motors where he served as Division Manager, Indianapolis Zone Merchandising Manager, and National Merchandising Manager for Refrigerators and Freezers. From 1970 to 1991, he was a partner and Executive Vice President of Myers Furniture and Appliances in New Castle.

He was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in New Castle. He served on many positions in the church and particularly enjoyed being a choir member. He served as a New Castle District lay leader, Conference Director of Lay Speaking, lay member to Jurisdictional and led the Indiana Delegation to the General Conference. He served on the board of the United Methodist Community in Franklin for thirteen years. He served as Conference Lay Leader representing the laity of 1355 churches for four years. He was the co-originator of Operation Classroom, a United Methodist lay sponsored Mission Project to upgrade and support schools in Liberia and Sierra Leone. He was on the Executive Committee of Operation Doctors for those two countries. He was presented an award from Governor Pence naming him Distinguished Hoosier for his work with Operation Classroom. He also was a recipient of the Golden Hoosier Award. He was a member of New Castle Evening Kiwanis since 1973 and served as president. He was a member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board, two times chairman, and Chair of the United Way of Henry County. He received the Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year in 1987.

He is survived by children, Mark Bowman (wife, Sarah), Beth Bowman Marschall (husband, Dave); son in law, Dennis Lee; six grandchildren, Laurie Martin, Adam Bowman (wife, Haley), Emily Bowman, Melanie Hufford (husband, Chris), Joe Bowman (wife, Erin) and Kevin Lee; fifteen great-grandchildren, Sylvia Martin, Iris Martin, Alaina Bowman, Addy Bowman, Preston Bowman, Maggie Bowman, Macy Hufford, Carmen Hufford, McKenley Hufford, Colston Hufford, Nora Bowman, Violet Bowman, Graham Bowman, Kaden Lee and Karsyn Lee.

Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, January 13, 2024 at Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service in New Castle with Pastor Mark Herbkersman officiating. Burial will follow at South Mound Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Raintree Habitat for Humanity, 605 New York Ave New Castle, IN 47362 or New Castle First United Methodist Church, 1324 Church Street New Castle, IN 47362. You may express condolences or share a memory of Bob at www.hinsey-brown.com .