Gerald Wayne "Bow" Bowman, 89, 510 Woodward Lane, died at 2:19 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2008, at Labette Health.

He was born June 6, 1919, at Mound Valley, a son of Selden and Hazel (Clark) Bowman. He was raised in Mound Valley and attended school there. In 1938 he enlisted in the Navy. He served most of his tour of duty aboard the U.S.S. New Orleans. He was stationed at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, when the Japanese attacked. Following his discharge he returned to Parsons. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1950 and served with the 930th Ordnance Company in Korea. He was discharged in 1952 and again returned to Parsons. From 1955 until his retirement in 1982 he operated Bowman Electric Service in Parsons.

On Feb. 3, 1942, he married Dorothy Cottengim at Gardnerville, Nev. She preceded him in death on Oct. 6, 2004.

He was a long-time and active member of the First Baptist Church at Parsons and the Builders Sunday school class. He was also a life member of the Brown-Bishop Post No. 704, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association. He also belonged to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. He stayed active in the 930th Ordnance Company and enjoyed attending its reunions.

Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Barbara Diane and Don Ribbeck of Chanute; two sons, Jerry Lee Bowman and his wife, Gina, of Parsons and Stephen Joe Bowman of Chanute; a half brother, Bill Bowman of Oswego; a half sister, Donna Mae Blancett of Chesapeake Bay, Va.; a stepsister, Betty Myers of Coffeyville; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; a stepmother, Marguerite Bowman; and his sister, Madonna Jamison.

The service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church with Joe Hyde officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery with military honors given by the Brown-Bishop Post No. 704, Veterans of Foreign Wars. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday at Carson-Wall Funeral Home.

Memorials are suggested to the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, and may be left at or sent to the funeral home, P.O. Box 942, Parsons, 67357.