Gail Kent Bowman, 82 of Chester, died Friday. June 18, 2010 at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.
Gail was Born March 13, 1928 in Ora, Idaho to William Earl and Zina Campbell Bowman. He attended schools in Ora, St. Anthony, Pocatello, Rigby and Sugar City. In his youth he worked for area farmers.
He was drafted into the Army in September of 1950 and served during the Korean War on the East German/West German border. He was discharged in August of 1952.
He married Marva Williams February 25, 1953 in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. They made their home in Chester and he worked for a dry cleaner in St. Anthony picking up and delivering laundry. In 1954 he went to Merced, California where he worked as superintendent of a construction company and later entered into business for himself as a general contractor.
He semi-retired in California and moved back to Chester in 1973 where he remained self employed. In 1976 he went to work for the DOE at the INEL and retired in 1993.
He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He served as a counselor in a Bishopric in California, as a Stake Missionary, Scout Master and Ordinance worker in the Idaho Falls Temple. He served a mission with his wife in 1996 and 1997 in the Ohio, Columbus Mission.
He was a pilot and loved to fly both for business and pleasure.
He is survived by his wife Marva; children, Kent (Lynette) Bowman of Rexburg, ID; Wade (Barbra) Bowman of Rexburg, ID; Susan (James) Barrott of Chattanooga, TN; and Chris (Deidre) Bowman of Idaho Falls, ID; a brother, Bill (Wilma) Bowman of Chester, ID; a sister Shirley (Bruce) Hilton of Saratoga, CA; 22 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, 4 siblings that died in infancy, his brother Edward, sister Donna Wellard and a grandson, Gomer Kyle Bowman.
Funeral services will be held Friday, June 25, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. in the Ashton LDS Stake Center. The family will receive friends on Thursday from 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. and Friday from 10:00 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. both at the Church. Burial will be in the Ora Cemetery with military rites from the Ashton American Legion. Services are under the direction of Bert Flamm Mortuary.