Services to celebrate the life of William “Bill” Bowman, 74, of Columbia will be held at 3:30 PM, Sunday, May 4, 2014 in the Sanctuary at St. Andrews Baptist Church. Dr. Dee Vaughan will officiate, with burial to follow at Dutch Fork Baptist Church Cemetery in Irmo. The family will receive friends prior to the celebration beginning at 2:00 PM in the Chapel.
Bill passed away on Thursday, May 1, 2014, surrounded by his wife of 53 years, his children and grandchildren. Born in Columbia, Tennessee, he graduated from Decatur High School, Decatur, Alabama, and attended Florence State College, Florence, Alabama. After marrying the love of his life, they came to Columbia through his employment with Daniels Construction where he helped to build Carolina Eastman Company in St. Matthews, SC. He went on to work for Carolina Eastman where he retired as a Senior Systems Analyst after 32 years.
Bill was an active member of St. Andrews Baptist Church having joined with his young family in April, 1966. He served as a Deacon, Sunday School Superintendent and served on the Church Finance Committee. In addition, he taught Sunday School and the R.A.’s where the track meets were his favorites. He and his wife, Janice, spent many years as the “unofficial chaperones” for the Youth Choir, once on a bus trip all the way to Mexico. Bill was the official “hugger” of all the pretty ladies at St. Andrews and will be sorely missed by them in the atrium on Sunday mornings. He was also fundamental in bringing the Church Library, a library of over 10, 000 volumes, into the digital age.
With four girls in the band over the course of many years, Bill served as Band Club President for a time and spent many weekends and most of his Summers working on projects for the band or chaperoning band trips with Janice and his girls. It became a way of life for both of them. Between his girls as they were growing up and then his grandkids later in life, he did his best over the years to attend every school play, band concert, chorus concert, orchestra concert, softball game, baseball game, football game, volleyball game, wrestling match, even football games where he did nothing but watch his favorite cheerleader. If it was something that one of his kids or grandkids was involved in, he was there. Not much could bring a bigger smile to his face than spending time with his kids, grandkids and great grandkids. He taught them all so much, some things they won’t even realize he taught them until much later in their lives.
In the 15 years as Co-Owner of The Indigo Shoppe, he formed friendships that have lasted a lifetime. He was also a valued member of his Computer Club, a club his family affectionately referred to as his “geek club”. The friends he made there were so special to him and he enjoyed every minute he spent with them.
Sharing a love of old houses, Bill volunteered with Janice at Historic Columbia and was recently awarded his 20-Year Service Pin. He was the navigator of the Bus and Trolley Tours and Janice was the voice. He loved to take people on tours of Millwood Plantation and even dressed as a Victorian Santa a time or two for the kids at Christmas.
Last Spring, Bill had the thrill and honor of accompanying Sergeant Major William E. Rigsby, the oldest living member of the Honor Guard for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, on an Honor Flight Trip to Washington, D.C. It was the trip of a lifetime for both he and Janice!
To the envy of most of his male friends, Bill had a group of ladies in the Church, some of Janice’s closest friends, with whom he enjoyed many a meal celebrating birthdays, special occasions and sometimes just because. They affectionately called themselves his “Harem”.
Bill loved his South Carolina Gamecocks. He adopted them when he moved to South Carolina all those years ago and stayed an avid fan ’til the day he died. It didn’t matter to him over the lean years that he wasn’t an alumni of the University and could root for whatever team he wanted to, win or lose. What mattered to him was loyalty. He loved both Baseball and Football season and spent many years going to the football games with his friend, Perry Hamilton. When his grandkids were old enough, he took turns sharing the excitement of Williams Brice and Gamecock Football with them as well.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 53 years, Janice Montgomery Bowman, Daughters Carol Wyndham (Steve), Diana Lopez (Victor), Ellen Hayhurst (Mitch) and Kathy Herman (William), Grandchildren Elizabeth, Kathryn and Jonathan Wyndham, Brittany Hayhurst (David Soper), Blair Hayhurst, Ryan Chmielewski, Brandi Chmielewski (Brandon Maroney) and Riley Herman, Great-Grandchildren Peyton Maroney and McKenzie Soper. He is also survived by his Sister-In-Law Linda Montgomery McCarver, his “Band of Brothers” Bob Montgomery, Randy Montgomery and Ronnie Montgomery (Bonita), Nieces and Nephews Kim Vickery (Mike), Clint Montgomery (Juan Carlos), Angie Wall (David), Jenny Spain and Carley Montgomery. Great Nieces and Nephews Chase and Ben Vickery, Andie and Austin Wall and Landon Dye, all of Decatur, Alabama, and his Mother, Norma Bowman and Sisters Joyce, Sandy and Vicki and Brothers Larry, David and Mike.
He was by predeceased by his Sister-In-Law Judi Montgomery (Bob), Brother-In-Law JD McCarver (Linda) and Nephew Matt Spain and his beloved kitties, Rebel and Dixie. He was also predeceased by Milburn and Eula Mae Carroll (Mama Carroll and Pop Carroll) of Gadsden, Alabama and Carl and Beatrice Montgomery (MeMa and PePa) of Decatur, Alabama, all of whom helped make him the man he was today.
The family would like to extend their gratitude to the Doctors, Nurses and staff at Providence Hospital who, with their loving hearts, made his last days comfortable. Memorials may be made to the Church Library at St. Andrews Baptist Church in his honor and memory.
The three most important things in Bill’s life were God, Family and Friends. That is how he lived and died and his family will miss him so.
