Charles Alzon “Charlie” Bowman of Brown’s Creek Road, Saint Albans, passed away August 8, 2011, at home with his family by his side after a valiant year long fight with cancer. Born April 20, 1946, at his family home in Alum Creek, he was a 1964 graduate of Duval High School and attended West Virginia State College before joining Boilermaker Union Local 667 until his retirement in 1998. An avid sportsman his entire life, he excelled at baseball, football, basketball, and motor cross racing before devoting his life to golf in the mid-1970s and volunteering for the Kanawha County Parks and Recreation at Big Bend Golf Course in Tornado for over twelve years during his retirement.
He is preceded in death by his parents Alzon and Opal Bowman, infant son Christopher Anthony, and sister Beverly Ryan.
He is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of forty-six years, Linda; his children, Charles Jr. “Chuck” and wife Cyndi of Saint Albans, Sonya Dunlap and husband Jay of Sod; his four ‘little darlings’—grandchildren, Weston Jay and Gavin Lee Dunlap, and Natalie Mae and Joseph Kyle Bowman; sisters and brothers-in-law, Carol and Fint Parsons of North Olmstead, Ohio, Jo Ann and Dean Loftis of Alkol, Lillie Bowman of New Orleans, LA, and Steve Ryan of Canton, MI; father and mother-in-law, Virgil and Golda Smith of Sod, brother and sister-in-law, Gary and Donna Smith of Clendenin; eight nieces and nephews, nine great nieces and nephews, several first cousins, and a host of special childhood, Boilermaker, and golfing buddies too numerous to mention.
Funeral service will be 2:00 pm, Friday, August 12, at the Alum Creek Independent Missionary Baptist Church, 2309 Childress Road Alum Creek with Pastors Frank Chapman and Paul Meadows officiating. Burial will follow in Lively Cemetery, Sod, with fellow retired Union brothers Bill Bosher, Ron Bush, Mike Durfee, Charlie Fisher, Ron Givens, Roger Henley, Roger Marion, and Jim Skeens serving as pall-bearers.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 pm on Thursday at the church and would be honored by your donations made in Charlie’s name to HospiceCare, 1606 Kanawha Blvd., West, Charleston, WV 25387-2536.
Curry Funeral Home of Alum Creek is in charge of arrangements.
To all the family of Charlie. My heart broke within me when I heard of his passing. I was sad, I could not make it home for his going away party. Charlie sure enjoyed life and loved is family and friends. Linda you are in our prayers. Charlie and I had some great times growing up. Gone but never forgotten. Love all of you…