GORDON L. BOWIE
CUMBERLAND - Gordon L. Bowie, 93, of 706 Washington Street, Cumberland, died at his home on Thursday morning, August 7, 1997, after a brief illness. He had been blessed with a long life, a devoted family, and a productive career.
Mr. Bowie, born in 1903, graduated in 1920 from Allegany High School, where he was on the track team. After a year of postgraduate study at The Mercersburg Academy, he began studies at the University of Michigan. But during his first year, there his father, the late Robert E. Lee Bowie, died, and soon he returned to Cumberland to join his brother, Douglas R. Bowie, in running their father's business, The Tri-State Paper Company. For 45 years, he served as secretary/treasurer of the company, building it into one of the most successful local wholesale paper distributors in the East. Mr. Bowie and his brother sold the business and retired in 1967.
Mr. Bowie served for 57 years on the Board of Directors of the First Federal Savings and Loan Association. In 1940, after his first meeting, he had to excuse himself promptly so that he could attend the birth of his daughter, Beverley. In 1997, his last act as board member was to help oversee the merger of First Federal with American Trust Bank. He had also served as vice-president of the bank.
In addition, he was active in the First Presbyterian Church, where he served as a deacon, as an elder, as president of the board of trustees, and as chair of a search committee to bring a new pastor to the church. He and his brother, Douglas, donated the Bowie Memorial Chapel to the church in memory of their parents.
At the time of his death, Mr. Bowie was the longest-standing member of Our Lodge of Masonry, and a 32nd degree Mason. He was a member of the Ali Ghan Shrine Club, a charter member of Cumberland Lions Club, and was a member and past director of the Royal Order of Jesters.
Despite his many other accomplishments, Mr. Bowie will be remembered best for a tennis career that spanned nine successive decades. As a promoter of the game, he spearheaded an effort to install all-weather courts at the Cumberland Country Club in 1958, and served for many years as a member of the Tennis Committee there and as the principal organizer of tennis at the club.
During that time, the number of family tennis members rose from five to over 100.
As a player, he and his wife, the late Evelyn Claybrook Bowie, dominated the Allegany County mixed doubles tournament, winning 10 championships during the 1940s and 1950s. During that period they were also perennial champions at the county club, where in addition Mr. Bowie won a number of singles and men's doubles championships. When he suffered a heart attack in 1956, he was told by his doctor to give up tennis. But after a year he discovered that the stress of golf and other forms of inactivity were harder on his heart than the game he loved. He gradually returned, at first in secret, to the courts.
In 1975, a tennis ball ricocheted from his racquet into his left eye and, despite surgery at the Wilmer Clinic at Johns Hopkins, he lost the sight of his eye. Undaunted by that, and also by triple bypass surgery that he underwent in 1979, he returned again to the courts, continuing to play doubles regularly until his last game in February of this year. For four years, from 1990 to 1993, he competed with 31 other doubles teams in the United States Tennis Association National 85 and Over Championships on the grass courts at the Longwood Cricket Club, in Chestnut Hills, Massachusetts. In 1996, he competed in the National 90 and Over Championships in Orlando, Florida.
Mr. Bowie is survived by his two children, Beverley Bowie Awbrey of Westfield, New Jersey, and G. Lee Bowie, Jr., of Amherst, Massachusetts; and by six grandchildren, Kimberley Michelle Awbrey, 28, of Washington, D.C., Becky Michaels, 27, of New York City, Lee Bowie Awbrey, 24, of Burlington, Vermont, Jules Bowie, 21, Michael Bowie, 10, and Cassie Bowie, 8, all of Amherst, Massachusetts.
A memorial service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, Cumberland, on Sunday, August 10, 1997, at 4 p.m.
The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Mr. Bowie's memory to the Hospice Association of Western Maryland.
JOSSETTE M. BOWLING
CUMBERLAND - Jossette Marie Bowling, 43, formerly of Cumberland, died Sunday, June 8, 1997, at Killeen, Texas.
Born Feb. 9, 1954 in Cumberland, she was the daughter of James and Mary C. Reed. She was preceded in death by a brother, James E. Reed II.
Mrs. Bowling served in the U.S. Army for six years in medical supply and worked as a manager for Texas Signs and Designs.
In addition to her parents she is survived by her husband, Jeffrey L. Bowling, Killeen; one son, Tommy Young of Elba, Ala.; one daughter, Sharon Young, Elba, Ala.; two brothers, Bernard J. Reed, Martinsburg, W.Va.; John C. Reed, Virginia Beach, Va.; three sisters, Mary Dowling, Manchester, N.H.; Tracey A. McIntyre, Martinsburg, W.Va. and Charlene J. Poorbaugh, Glencoe, Pa.
The body was cremated.
Donations or memorials may be made to the Pediatrics Restorative Care Center at Baylor Hospital in Dallas, Texas.
ERMA E. BOWLUS
JEFFERSON - Erma Elizabeth Bowlus, 84, of 1807 Arnoldstown Road, Jefferson, died Friday, June 13, 1997, at the home of her niece, Carolyn and the Rev. James L. McMahan, Cumberland.
Born Oct. 14, 1912, in Keedysville, she was a daughter of the late Owen Edward and Bertha Jones Poffenberger. She also was preceded in death by her husband, Grayson Aubrey on March 28, 1981; and the following brothers and sisters, Margie I. Corder, Clarence Poffenberger, Isabell I. Watkins, Alice Poffenberger, Ira Poffenberger, and Igenes Poffenberger.
Surviving are one brother, Leonard Poffenberger, Shepardstown, W.Va.; and several nieces and nephews.
Friends will be received at the Donald B. Thompson Funeral Home, 31 East Main St., Middletown, on Tuesday from 2 to 3 p.m.
Services will be held at the funeral home Tuesday at 3 p.m. with the Rev. Jack Cook, pastor of Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church, Hagerstown, and the Rev. James L. McMahan, pastor of Trinity and Potomac Park United Methodist Church, Cumberland, officiating.
Interment will be in Pleasant View Church of the Brethren Cemetery, Burkittsville.
The Scarpelli Funeral Home, 108 Virginia Ave., Cumberland, handled the local arrangements.
GERALDINE L. BOWMAN
CUMBERLAND - Geraldine L. Long Bowman, 81, of Fayette Street, Cumberland, died Monday, July 7, 1997, in Cuppett Weeks Nursing Home, Oakland.
Born April 14, 1916, in Ridgeley, W.Va., she was the daughter of the late Stanley J. and Lula (Combs) Lease. She also was preceded in death by two husbands O. Carl Long, in 1961, and Carl B. Bowman, in 1970; one sister, Fannie B. Miller; and three brothers, Stanley D., Austin G. and Sam W. Lease.
Mrs. Bowman was a member of the Cresaptown United Methodist Church, Henry Hart Post 13, VFW Ladies Auxiliary, American Legion Post 15, Ladies Auxiliary, and the Ladies Auxiliary of the Cumberland Eagles 245. She was retired in 1981 from the Springfield State Hospital, Sykesville.
Surviving are one daughter, Carla S. Cunningham, North Hutchison Island, Fla. and Deep Creek Lake; one sister, Grace Stoner, Hagerstown; one sister-in-law, Anna Lease, RusselLville, Ohio; one brother, Carl L. Young and wife Marie, Byran, Texas; one brother-in-law, Francis Miller, Leesburg, Va., and several nieces and nephews.
Friends will be received at the Hafer Chapel of the Hills Mortuary, 1302 National Highway, LaVale, on Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Services will be conducted in the funeral home chapel on Thursday at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Harold R. McClay Jr. officiating.
Interment will be in Rest Lawn Memorial Gardens, LaVale.
Contributions may be made in Mrs. Bowman's memory to the Cresaptown United Methodist Church, Route 220 S., Cresaptown, MD 21502 or to the Garrett County Hospice Unit, 2008 Maryland Highway, Oakland, MD 21550.
Pallbearers will be Lenny Bosse, Francis Cosgrove, Harold Hite, Jimmie Light, Robert Rephan and Ronald L. Rice.
OWEN D. BOWSER
GRANTSVILLE - Owen Dale Bowser, 63, of 2408 Legeer Road, Grantsville, died Thursday, Aug. 21, 1997, at his residence.
Born April 9, 1934, in Grantsville, he was a son of the late George and Agnes (Yaste) Bowser.
Mr. Bowser had been employed as a car repairman for Harbison-Walker Refractories prior to his retirement and was a member of Woodmen of the World Camp 41.
Surviving are his wife, Beatrice Elizabeth (Snyder) Bowser; a son, Thomas D. Bowser, Grantsville; a daughter, Julie K. Hardesty, Grantsville; a brother, Arthur Bowser, Clinton; four sisters, Gladys Meyers, Grantsville, Melva Barley, Silver Spring, Bernadine Watkins, Canton, Mich., and Fern Bowser, Washington, D.C.; and three grandchildren, Becky, Kimmy and J.D.
Friends will be received at the Newman Funeral Home, Grantsville, on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Services will be conducted at the funeral home on Saturday at 1 p.m. with Keith Welch officiating.
Interment will be in Grantsville Cemetery.
WARD E. BOWSER
FROSTBURG - Ward E. Bowser, 75, of 70 Linden St., Frostburg, died Monday, Oct. 27, 1997, at his home.
Born Aug. 17, 1922, in Salisbury, Pa., he was the son of the late Alvin R. and Verna (Handwerk) Bowser.
Mr. Bowser was retired from the Celanese Corporation. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, a member of the American Legion Farrady Post No. 24, Frostburg, and the VFW Post No. 8825, Salisbury, Pa.
Surviving are one sister, Nellie Wright, Eckhart; one brother, John A. Bowser and wife Charlene, Alexandria, Va.; two nieces; and one nephew.
Friends will be received at the Sowers Funeral Home, Frostburg, on Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Services will be conducted at the funeral home on Thursday at 11 a.m. with the Rev. George M. Harpold officiating.
Interment will be in Salisbury Cemetery, Salisbury, Pa.
Graveside military honors will be accorded by American Legion Farrady Post No. 24.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Diabetes Association, 407 Central Ave., Reisterstown, MD 21136.
LILLIAN M. BOYLAND
CUMBERLAND - Lillian M. Boyland, 86, of Ridgeley, W.Va., died Thursday, March 20, 1997, at the Cumberland Nursing Home.
Born Oct. 30, 1910, in Berkeley Springs, W.Va., she was the daughter of the late John L. Everett and the late Sallie M. (Weber) Everett. She also was preceded in death by her husband, James W. Boyland Sr., on May 4, 1980.
Mrs. Boyland was a retired secretary for the United Textile Workers. She was a member of SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church.
Surviving are two sons, James W. Boyland Jr., Cumberland, and John K. Boyland, Burbank, Calif.; two daughters, Joycelyn M. Sherman, Aurora, Ill., and Jeanne K. Amick and husband Chet, Cumberland; one sister, Mazelia Everett, Frostburg; seven grandchildren, Sharon Amick, Shelly Witt, Tina Young, April and Allison Sherman, Sean and Dawn Boyland; and two great-grandchildren.
Friends will be received at the Merritt-Adams Funeral Home, 404 Decatur St., Cumberland, on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church on Monday at 10 a.m. with Father Vance Pastorius as celebrant.
Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery.
A Christian Wake Service will be held at the funeral home on Sunday at 8:45 p.m.
MARGARET E. BOYLE
CUMBERLAND - Margaret Elizabeth Boyle, 75, of Wempe Drive, Cumberland, died Saturday, Dec. 27, 1997, at Sacred Heart Hospital.
Born Oct. 31, 1922, in Cumberland, she was a daughter of the late George Walter Geatz and Emma (O'Neill) Geatz. She also was
preceded in death by two brothers, James R. Geatz and George W. Geatz Jr.; and two sisters, Anna Lee Ambrose and Mary Virginia Poling.
Mrs. Boyle was retired from the Allegany County Board of Education, where she was employed as the cafeteria manager for Columbia Street Elementary School. She was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Cumberland.
Surviving are her husband, Richard F. Boyle; a son, Robert F. Boyle and wife Linda, Cumberland; a daughter, Patricia Stevens and husband Dennis, Cumberland; two brothers, Joseph Geatz, Laurel, and Thomas Geatz and wife Doris, Cumberland; a sister Clara Mae Clark, Cumberland; one grandson, Robert B. Boyle, Pittsburgh; three granddaughters, Jacqueline A. Reed and husband Bradley, Ashley K. Boyle and Laura D. Stevens, all of Cumberland; and one great-grandson, Brandon J. Reed.
Friends will be received at the Merritt-Adams Funeral Home, P.A., 404 Decatur St., Cumberland, on Monday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Patrick's Catholic Church on Tuesday at 10 a.m. with Father Thomas Bevans as celebrant.
Interment will be in the Maryland State Veterans Cemetery at Rocky Gap.
