Lee Gipson Bowman, 1931-1992

Lee G. Bowman was born January 2, 1932, in Sierra Leone, West Africa, to missionary parents, Lloyd and Lela Gipson Bowman. Returning from Africa to the Virginia conference of the Evangelical United Brethren Church (EUB), the Bowmans served in the Dayton area. Lee attended schools there and went on to Bridgewater College, leaving after two years to work for National Cash Register for five years.

Heeding the call to preach the Gospel, Lee was licensed at the 1954 conference held at Waynesboro EUB (now Glovier Memorial United Methodist Church). Lee proceeded to Bob Jones University where he received a B.A. degree in 1957. That same year, he married Norma Haire, also a Bob Jones graduate. The Bowmans moved to San Piere, Indiana, where Lee served a student pastorate while earning a B.D. from Evangelical Seminary.

Lee was ordained elder in 1960 and served the Franklin Charge, Pleasant Valley, for six years, Glovier Memorial for 10 years, five years in New Enterprise (Pa.) Church of the Brethren, and returned to Tyler Memorial Church in the Peninsula District. In 1988, Lee took disability leave after a second stroke; he and Norma moved to Arthur, W. Va., Norma' s home area.

Letters and cards arriving from each of Lee's former appointments attest to his faithful service and the fond memories his parishioners held for him and of the Gospel experience Lee provided through his faithfulness to his Lord. Civic services also endeared community people to Lee. At Franklin, Lee served on the volunteer fire department. In Waynesboro, Lee became chaplain for the rescue squad and later became a certified emergency medical technician. While at Waynesboro, Lee became a member of Lee Lodge, AF&AM 209.

What most endeared people to Lee was his love of people. Even those who disagreed with him respected him because he did what he believed in. To we who knew him, Lee was genuine and sincere.

Two of the greatest joys of their lives came with the births of Lloyd and Ann to parents who loved children but had none in the early years of their marriage. Lee made sure that he had time for Norma and his children. This was not only something he recommended for others, but modeled by "practicing what he preached." Lee always believed that all the families in his charge were important, including his own.

Lee was always concerned about the repair of buildings on each of his charges. At the time of his disability leave, Lee's own temple fell into disrepair which he could not repair. On December 27, 1992, Lee was healed and his spirit freed from a broken body. One more cut in an imperfect stone turned him into the perfect ashlar fit for that temple not made by human hands, eternal in the heavens.

-Gene M. Williams