Reverend Ernest Monroe Bowman, 85, husband of Gloria Joye Bowman, passed away peacefully at his residence on Saturday, January 10th, 2015.
Ernest was born in Valerie, Kentucky on September 10, 1929, a son of the late Younger and Lily Brown Bowman. He grew up in Lexington, Kentucky, graduated from Henry Clay High School, and attended Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky. He graduated from Southeastern University and Atlantic Christian College. He spent four years in the Air Force stationed at Shaw Air Force Base and Wiesbaden, Germany during the Korean Conflict. He was honorably discharged in 1955.
He married Gloria Joye Humphrey from Kingstree, SC in 1953. Reverends’ Ernest and Joye, along with their three children, Gloria, Debbie, and Sam, served as missionaries in Guatemala, Central America, for 16 years, coming back to the United States in 1979. Reverends’ Ernest and Joye also pastored churches in South Carolina and Florida.
Ernest served with Poyner Adult Education for 15 years. Ernest was a loving, committed, adoring and sensitive husband.
He was a magnificent, doting dad (“Papito”) as well as a fabulous granddad (“Lito”, “Toto”).
Ernest is survived by: his wife of 61 years, Joye; their three children, Gloria Gayle Bowman-Willliamson (Eddie) Whiteville, NC, Deborah Marie Bowman-Nunez (Dr. Gregory Nunez) Dillon, SC, and Samuel Bowman (Jakelyn) Hanes City, FL; seven grandchildren, Patrick Williamson, Erica Brooke Williamson, Johanna Nunez, Aaron Nunez, Alexis Nunez, James Nunez and Lainey Bowman; and two brothers, Roy (Golda) and Earl (Aloma). In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by five siblings, Allen, Ellis, Younger, Vivian Boggs and Ina Marie Foley.
A private graveside funeral service with military honors will be held Monday, January 12th, 2015, at Kingstree Memorial Gardens in Kingstree, SC.
A celebration of Reverend Ernest Bowman’s life will be held 2 pm Saturday, January 17, 2015, in Dillon Church of God in Dillon. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Fire Bible, 1445 Booneville Avenue, Springfield, MO 65802.