Joseph Neal Bowman
1929-2018
Joseph Bowman passed away peaceably at home surrounded by his loving wife, Julie, and devoted family on July 20, 2018. Joe was born in Glendale, CA to Vera and Chester Bowman. He graduated from Glendale High School in 1946, remaining good friends with his high school buddies the rest of his life.
Joe joined the Army National Guard and served in Korea. Upon returning to California, he worked at Chevron Oil Corp. in L.A. He married Mary Lou Currie in 1950, and they had three children, Sandra (Allen Brewer, Montana), Lisa (Wayne Steenson, Washington State), and David (Bonnie Pinkerton, Redding, CA). They moved to Cloverdale where Joe began his career in the lumber industry.
Joe lived in Cloverdale for fifty years. He founded Bowman Lumber Sales in 1977, a wholesale lumber company. In 1980, he opened RidgeCo Truss Company to serve the building trade of Sonoma and Mendocino Counties. He was active on the Planning Commission and the Cloverdale Boys and Girls Club. In 1988, Joe and his son, David, won First Place in the Sonoma County Harvest Fair World Championship Grape Stomp. Though never winning again, they had fun competing ten more years. Joe felt deeply honored to have been invited by the Korean Veterans Association in 1988 to be an “Ambassador of Peace,” touring Korea and representing the U.S.
After his divorce in 1961, Joe’s children spent summers with him, and remained close to him throughout his life. Joe liked to take long-distant motorcycle trips to various states to visit his adult children. He also loved art, jazz, the stock market, and antiques, especially family heirlooms.
In 1972, Joe briefly dated Julie Nation, who was starting her Modeling Academy. They reunited twenty-five years later when he invited her to lunch to celebrate her business’s anniversary, and they never parted since. Married to Julie since 2001, Joe was known by family and friends as an always considerate gentleman and will be deeply missed for his gentle spirit, quick wit and humor, and generosity. He developed a special bond with Hospice nurse’s aids and caregivers Sereana and Lidia because of his kindness and appreciation.
Joe leaves an extended family of 3 children, 7 grandchildren (many with his color of red hair!), and 5 stepchildren.
A Celebration of Life will be held privately. Donations may be sent to Sutter Hospice, Santa Rosa, or a charity of choice
