Obituary: Bowman, Donald R. (Age 82)
Don was born in Medicine Lodge, KS on December 28, 1930 to parents John and Rachel Bowman.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his great grandson Elijah Owen Rowe.
He is survived by his loving wife Geneva, his brothers Jack and Doug, and his six children, Keith, Richard, David, Susan, Kent and Brian as well as grandchildren Greg, Neil, Kevin, Zach, Gabe, Caitlin, Crystal, Julianne, Christian, Brandon and Jacob and great-grandson Cody.
Shortly after graduating from high school Don joined the United States Air Force.
His first duty station was Okinawa, Japan.
He was then stationed at Beale AFB, Ca where he met his loving wife Geneva Rose.
While at Beale he applied to the Office of Special Investigation.
He spent three months in Washington D.C. where he completed OSI training.
His many duty stations included Portland, OR, Japan, Germany, Virginia, Utah and finally Fairchild AFB where he retired in 1971 after 23 years of service to his country.
Don served during both the Korean and Vietnam wars.
While serving with the OSI, he was a member of the “OSI Worldwide Pistol Shooting Team” that earned many 1st place prizes.
He was also a long time NRA member of the Golden Eagles which is recognized for extraordinary service, dedication and personal sacrifice in the face of challenges experienced by our nation and her people at home and abroad.
The Golden Eagles were dedicated to the defense of our constitutional right to keep and bear arms.
After retiring from the Air Force, Don earned his teaching degree from Eastern Washington University and taught for one year at Otis Orchards Elementary.
Don had a love of the outdoors which included hunting and fishing and decided to pursue a career that would allow him to work outdoors.
He left his teaching position to expand his bee keeping hobby to a full time job as an apiarist (bee keeper), moving bee hives to California and North Dakota for crop pollination, and extracting and selling the honey his bees produced.
Don made many friends in the bee keeping industry and frequently assisted other bee keepers with his knowledge.
Don spent the remainder of his working years as an apiarist and upon retirement spent his remaining years enjoying being with his family and gardening.
Don Bowman was well respected by his family and friends and will be dearly missed.
We all love and miss you Don.
Visitation will be on Friday, June 28, 2013 from 9:00 am to 10:30 am; Funeral Service will be held at 11:00am on Friday, June 28, 2013 at Heritage Funeral Home followed by interment at Washington State Veteran’s Cemetery in Medical Lake, WA.