Notes for William Walter BOWMAN

Notes for William Walter BOWMAN

Dad Air Force 1942, Reads "To Jane With My Love, Bill"
Dad with Ollie Solum and "Wuja" Bob Dunlap at EHS Graduation 1965
Fell out of a tree Jasper, AL, Easter Sunday, 1977
Dad in Tampa 1991
Dalton 1993
Bill Bowman and The Crew of the B-25, North Africa
Bill Bowman Ready for Takeoff, The Miss Minooky, North Africa
Dalton Georgia 1993
Bill's First Grade Class
Description: Arlington National Cemetery
WILLIAM WALTER BOWMAN FUNERAL-ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

Almost all of the immediate family was in attendance on Tuesday,March 1, 1994, to celebrate the mournful passing of "Bill" Bowman. Hiseldest son William Bowman, Jr. with wife Becky and children, Jane andJennifer; his youngest son, Jack Bowman; his brother George withDaughter Connie and her son Ron Webb; and his Widow Jane made up allof the Bowmans. Jane's Sister Stella Dunlap, with her daughtersRoberta Schmidt, Patrice Dunlap, and Mary Jane Blythe, and son-in-lawJoe Blythe were all there. Also, Jane's Sister Kaz Solumn and BlondieSolumn were able to come from Springfield. Even though he was stillill, Stanley Przywitowski, wife Jane, son Jimmy, daughter PamBingnear, and son-in-law Jim Bingnear, were all able to come fromtheir various homes.
As the slow entourage of cars passed by the graves of theAmerican Veterans, up George Patton Drive, in sight of the Pentagon,the funeral caisson came into view. Slowly to the tattoo of the drums,the Air Force Officers marched in precision steps to receive the ashesof the Army Air Force Veteran of World War II. The four perfectlymatched horses drawing the caisson started the last journey WilliamBowman would make on this earth. Falling behind the Honorary PallBearers were the Honor Guard moving with grace as well as exactness tothe slow dirge being played by the Air Force Band.
The Pall Bearers with practiced precision honored the remains asthey unfolded the Flag to drape the grave site. The words spoken bythe Chaplain were of Love, Dignity, and Honor, the qualities allbespoken of Bill. A staccato of orders rang out and the Guard snappedto attention, motionless. And with a crisp salute, the seven gunsfired once, twice, three times in rapid succession, sending theirechos throughout the hollowed grounds. But before these sounds couldin themselves die away, the sad, low tones of the bugle could befaintly heard among the tree as Taps would be played for the last timefor Bill. Overhead could be heard the drone of commercial jets, almostas if they too were paying tribute to a man who spent so much of hislife traveling. The flag was folded to remind everyone that thischapter on Bill's life on earth was closed. After the flag waspresented to the widow, condolences were said and the funeral partyprepared to leave.
Slowly the cars moved away from the grave site, climbing towardthe Lee Mansion. A quick glimpse back revealed the lonely vigil of theCaptain of the guard standing his solitary post at the grave. Thewarmth that was in the air was gone, surely it would snow in themorning.
Grew up in Haddonfield, N.J. Learned golf while caddyingat the local country club. In vocational school, captain of thefootball team, and graduated with a chemistry degree. Remembers how hegot extra money for cigarettes. He would get bus riders to give himtheir transfer tickets and then he would sell these tickets to a manfor cigarette money.
Took a job at American Viscose(Marcus Hook,PA). One dayhis boss asked him to look into selling synthetic yarn to some guys hehad heard about making carpet in Dalton, Georgia. So Dad finally foundDalton on a map and flew to Chattanooga. There he met the first menmaking carpets in the chicken houses and sold them yarn. Most of themwent on to become millionaires.
When Shuford Mills in Hickory, N.C. needed help with theircarpet yarn spinning operation, they hired Bill in 1956. With hardwork and long days/weeks in Dalton and generally on the road, Bill wasmade V.P. of Shuford Mills. Made the carpet yarn division for them amajor factor in the industry. Decided to go out on his own in 1969 andhad an interest in Cordova Spinners, Cordova, AL. Took the old IndianHead Mill built in 1899 and turned it into a money making plant. Losta union election in 1977 and sold mill out(it closed shortlyafterwards during a union strike). Retired to Dalton, Ga. Loved toplay golf, until he had to give it up due to a bad back and bad feet.Was also very good at gin rummy, whenever he wasn't throwing the cardsat someone. Family took vacations, gifts, on winnings. Startedbuilding furniture after retirement.
B25 pilot (The Miss M'Nooky) during WW2, 448th Bomb Squad,321 Bomb Group(Columbia,S.C.), North Africa, got TB in Italy, returnedto states, married Mom. Had some things to say about the war but notmuch. Trained in Alabama then went to Carlstrom Field in Arcadia, Fl.There he decided he wanted to see Mom so he went AWOL for about aweek. When he returned the Army was desperate for pilots he was givenlittle punishment. During one of his cross country training trips hedecided to have engine trouble near Philadelphia. Knowing where Mom'shouse was in Chester, near the Baldwin locomotive works chimney hethought it would be "swell" to buzz the house. That afternoon when hisfuture father-in-law came home he was fuming about the damn fool pilotwho buzzed the Baldwin plant. Seems Pop was outside doing some work onthe roof when this B-25 came down so low it almost knocked him off hisladder. Later Mom told Dad not to ever mention it again. Finishedtraining in Georgia and flew his B-25 to North Africa, stopping firstin Trinidad, then Brazil, finally landing in Morroco. One raid was sointense with flack that he lost most of his hydraulics, having to handcrank the landing gear down-barely getting it done before touchdown.Dug a piece of shrapnel out of his seat after the mission, felt theheat through the fabric. Spoke of the Anzio landing when all of theplanes were called on to do low level straffing-said it was some sightseeing these B-25's flying in low right over our troops heads andfinally straffing the enemy. He sent a picture back to brother Georgeof his B-25. George mentioned he had never see a B-25 with waist guns.Dad asked "You didn't tell anyone did you?" Seems that his crew fittedout their plane with the guns and they became so popular the rest ofthe flight started using it, but it was still supposed to be a secret.
As soon as he got home he popped the question to Mom.Since they had been away from each other so long, they decided twoweeks was enough to wait to get married. Was so sick with jaundice atwedding ceremony, didn't remember where he was. But priest didn't wantto marry them because Dad was divorced and no papers for proof. He wasin uniform so it was O.K. Went to New York for the honeymoon but gotso sick the hotel called an army doctor. The doctor immediately tookhim to a hospital without telling anyone where he was going. Took Momthree days to find out where he was.
Due to T.B. started getting arthritis in the lungs,pulmonary fibrosis, only allowing about 50% oxygen efficiency. Onoxygen all the time 1993. Found out he had lung cancer in December,1993. He tried to tell the doctors many times before, but no-onebelieved him. The doctors found nothing wrong until three days afterhis checkup he had terminal cancer. Went to his son Bill's house inVale where the family cared for him the last week (with the help ofHospice. Hospice Chaplain Kim Foy Dowell officiated at his wake).