Lavern Bowman

Lavern Kathryn Weigle Bowman was born on August 28, 1918, in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, the eleventh and youngest child of Albert Sylvester Weigle and Lydia Jane Spangler.  She grew up on the family farm. Later, the family moved to the town of Listie, PA.

On Mother’s Day, May 13, 1945, Lavern, 27, married a young Tech 5 Army Private named Harry Benjamin Bowman, 29, back on leave from Fort George, Baltimore, Maryland.   Harry was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II on March 31, 1941 at Buffalo, NY for his Asiatic Tour of Guadalcanal, New Guinea and North Solomon Island’s.  Receiving an honorable discharge at Fort George, Baltimore, Maryland July 29, 1945 with a Good Conduct Metal.

After Harry’s discharge from the army, the couple started on their way to Florida to live, but stopped to visit Harry’s parents, Joel Elmer and Mary Amanda Stern Bowman, in Norfolk, VA.  That stop became permanent and the business venture of Bowman’s ESSO Gas and Service Station, between father and son, began.

From 1946 ~ 1954 their children were born, Ruth Amanda, Judy Jane, Ben Albert, Margie Jean, Ray Elmer, Harry Russell, and Mel / Melvin Phillip.

Harry sold the ESSO gas/service station after running it for 15 years, packed the family into a custom modified 38’ New Moon tow-behind house trailer.  The trailer was pulled by Harry with their 1958 white snub-nose Willies Jeep 2-ton truck.  A custom handmade trailer, built by Harry, on the bed of the truck was filled with tools for Harry’s mechanic trade.  Lavern drove the 1954 Ford station wagon pulling another of Harry’s custom handmade pull trailers full of more tools. The family traveled the famous curvy dirt Al-Can Highway in Canada and Alaska.  In the spring of 1960, the family arrived in Anchorage and made their home at 4506 Arkansas Drive, Spenard, Alaska from 1960 ~ 1964 and went through the 9.6 earthquake before returning to the lower 48. Lavern never failed to demonstrate her lifelong commitment to God and family, her love and respect for her husband of 49 years, as a stay-at-home wife and mother with strength of character, and wise guidance. Lavern will always be well-loved & remembered as a dedicated and gracious woman, a loving Godly wife and mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great grandmother.  

Lavern was preceded in death by husband Harry Benjamin Bowman; sons Ray Elmer & Harry Russell Bowman; granddaughter Tammy Jo Sailors; son-in-law Wayne L. Becker; parents Albert Sylvester and Lydia Jane (Spangler) Weigle; siblings: Cleo, Lester, Nellie, Lillian, Cloyd, Nevin, Eugene, Stella, Dayton and Ray; in-laws Joel Elmer and Mary Amanda (Stern) Bowman.  All our loved ones are in God and Jesus’ arms, but forever in our hearts.

Lavern Kathryn Bowman is survived by

*daughter  Ruth & John Rogers; Judy & Gregg Pickens, Cassie & Cameron; Randy Rogers, Ashley, Abigale, Annabelle all of Omaha, NE;  Sandra & Ray Sessions, Jonathan, Bethany, Brittany, Bailey, & Brooklyn, Kensely, AR;

*daughter  Judy Jane (Wayne) Becker, Falls City; Jean & Scott Reynolds, Bern, KS; Anna-Jean & Tyler Eaton, Kaiser Eaton, Falls City, NE; Bryce Hayes, Clovis, NM, Tate Hayes, Sumter, SC;  Susan Reynolds, Gilbert, AZ, Joshua Butrick, Cedar Falls, IA; Tessa Reynolds, Topeka, KS; September Reynolds, Holton, KS.

*son  Ben & Cherie (Hollens) Bowman, Topeka, KS; Jenny & Brian King, Lenexa, KS;

*daughter  Margie & Douglas Sailors, Falls City, NE; Scott & Emily Sailors, Humboldt, NE.;  (Tammy Jo)

*son  (Harry R.) Dianne (McCullough) Bowman;  Chad & Kathy Bowman, Jacob and Jessica; Kara Vaughn, Rachel, Preston and Ashlynn all from Auburn, NE.

*son  Melvin (Mel) & Carolyn ( Michel) Bowman; Jared Bowman; Laura & Brad Callaway, Aspyn, and Avalyn all from Lincoln, NE.

Her funeral will be held on Wednesday, October 18, 2017 at 2:00 PM at Dorr and Clark Funeral Home with Pastor Jerry Yount officiating. Interment will be in Steele Cemetery.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 5-7:00 PM at Dorr and Clark Funeral Home.

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