William A. "Bill" Bowman, 73

GREENWOOD - William A. "Bill" Bowman passed away peacefully, after a tough battle with cancer, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2007, in his home. He was 73.

Mr. Bowman was born Dec. 6, 1933, in Verona, N.J., son of the late Paul M. and Mildred I. Bowman. He moved to Delaware with his family when he was 11 years of age.

He served in the Delaware Army National Guard for eight years, starting in his late teens, and worked most of his career as a maintenance electrician. He retired from General Foods in 1996 after 28 years of service.

He had a wide variety of hobbies and talents. His biggest joy was planning, preparing and tending to his garden. He took enormous pride in sharing his prize vegetables and fruits with others. He was a big sports fan and often spent his leisure time watching sports on TV or golfing with family and friends. He was a true Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Eagles fan. He enjoyed tinkering in his garage. He was truly gifted when it came to building and fixing things. Because of this gift, he was able to build his first home in Greenwood as he started his own family. Later, in his years of retirement, he became an avid bird enthusiast.

Mr. Bowman was a member of the Greenwood High School Alumni, class of 1951, and kept in touch with his classmates from the class of 1951 on a monthly basis. He also attended the Greenwood United Methodist Church.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Gerald J. Bowman.

He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Janice S. Bowman; a brother, Rex Bowman of Hop Bottom, Pa.; three sisters, Betty Aungst of Riverdale, N.J., Erma Woodworth of Ayden, N.C., and Janice Bailey of Greenwood; three sons and three daughters-in-law, Bruce and Rita Bowman of Greenwood, Drew and Cheryl Bowman of Harrington, and Shawn and Teri Bowman of Greenwood; two grandsons, Derek and Brian; and four granddaughters, Amanda, April, Kerry and Leah.

Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday in Fleischauer Funeral Home, 48 W. Market St., Greenwood.

Services will be 1 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home.

Burial will be in St. Johnstown Cemetery, Greenwood.

Instead of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to either the Greenwood United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 2017, Greenwood, DE 19950; or to the Greenwood Volunteer Fire Co., P.O. Box 1, Greenwood, DE 19950.