Edward Ethan Bowman- Born, Hood River Oregon 2-25-40
Ed was raised in Oregon City and Estacada. He joined the Marine Corps in the middle of his senior year in high school, from 1957-1962, he served all over the far east as an infantry weapons armorer. After honorable discharge he worked many jobs, S.P&S Railroad, Fred Meyer INC. as an assistant food manager, U.S. Forest Service, fighting forest fires. Page and Page trailers, Willamette Iron & Steel. He also worked for his brother Bill in the restaurant and motel business. He worked 23 years for O.D.O.T. and retires as a section coordinator in Detroit, Oregon. He began a home security business, answering alarms and caretaking summer homes with success. Ed and Debra traveled to Europe for a month in 2000. Ed had many hobbies and collections. Antiques, memorabilia, stamps, coins, and rock tumbling. He loved rockwork and building walls. He enjoyed carpentry and built many decks in the neighborhood. He loved the woods, and cutting firewood, and falling trees on his property, piling brush, and limbs and burning piles. He enjoyed fishing, he and Debra enjoyed boating Detroit Lake many years in their boat, (weird I), Debra and Ed loved camping with their RV. He leaves his love Debra of 44 years, daughters Raylene Ralston, (Salem, OR) and Susan Bowman, (Grants Pass, OR.) sons Evan Bowman, (deceased) and Daniel Bowman, (Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho) 13 grandchildren. Siblings, Bill Bowman, (deceased) Eleanor Krause. (deceased) twin Allen Bowman, (Portland, OR.) stepsister, Ilma Tomlin (deceased) Ed’s mother, father, and stepfather are deceased. He also lost a grandchild (2014). Ed’s father was killed in the woods working for the U.S.F.S. when he and his twin were 6 months old. The family was split up briefly. Ed lived with his aunt and uncle and grandparents when very young.
Ed was a recipient of the American Red Cross Crisis Hero Award of 2008 for his work as a commissioner of emergency preparedness during winter of 2008-2009. He was a city councilman for four years.
Ed had quite a ride in his lifetime. He found his love of life after failed marriages. Debra and him were married many years (44), he always said he couldn’t live without her. When he met Debra those were the happiest years of his life, he said it was a learning tool, I can’t change it.
He was committed to be a good community citizen and volunteered for years cleaning and maintaining Hill St. and Mackey Lane. He loved being busy and loved his home he and Debra built together.
I wrote these words, it is what it is. Good luck and God bless, I love you all.