Emmett Bowman, 92, passed peacefully on Wednesday Jan. 22, 2020, at Franciscan Health Crawfordsville.
Born July 11, 1927, at Lebanon, he lived in Advance until his family moved to Crawfordsville in 1942.
He graduated a semester early from Crawfordsville High School in order to enlist in the Navy at 17. During his two years in the Navy, he served in the Philippines and the South Pacific on an aircraft carrier where he was Storekeeper 3rd Class. After returning home from World War II, Emmett married Ruby Franklin on Ja. 30, 1948. Ruby preceded him in death Jan. 3, 2007.
In the early 1950s, he and his brother, Walter, opened Bowman Brothers Grocery and Bowman Brothers Restaurant. Emmett went on to own several cafes until going to real estate school in 1961. Emmett started businesses in both real estate and construction, focusing on single and multifamily housing renovations. Emmett retired from Bowman-Cohee Construction in 1991.
Emmett was instrumental in building the Sugar Creek Trail, and spent 10 years mowing, weeding and maintaining it for Crawfordsville Parks and Recreation until 2012. He was a charter member of the Optimist Club, where he served as the Lieutenant Governor of West Central Indiana and had 23 years of perfect attendance. He was a 70-year member of the American Legion. He belonged to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Moose Lodge, Eagles Lodge and was a 33rd degree Freemason. Emmett was a lifetime member of the Elks Club where he spent 10 years as trustee and 11 years as treasurer. He was a founding father of the Boys Club in 1955, and a leader when the club added girls in 1957. He spent 30 years on the advisory board and served as president for two years. He was a past president of the Senior Golf League and on the board of directors for the Masonic Cemetery. He attended Woodlands Heights Christian Church.
Emmett was an avid gardener and fearsome euchre player. He had a deep love for nature and animals. Emmett proudly maintained his home, garden and yard until his death. He leaves behind his beloved cats, Jody and Sissy.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Emmett and Martha Bowman; wife Ruby Bowman; brother Walter Bowman; and son Thomas Bowman.
He is survived by his children, Brenda Lovold (the late David), Cheryl Bowman-Cohee (Jeff Cohee) and Jeffrey Bowman (Colleen Fanning); his grandchildren, Kari Miller (Jim), Kris Bowman, Angela Hale (Marcus), Nick Lovold (Staci), Joshua Lovold (Courtney), Ty Cohee (Christina), Travis Cohee (Brittani), Yale Bowman (Angela), Noah Bowman, and Simon Bowman; his great-grandchildren, Bri, Cameron, Cody, Jordan, Emmy, Lauren, Ellen, Jack, Abigail, Genevieve, Sutton, Sawyer, Audri, Monroe, Kieran, Fallon, Linden, Yael and Magnolia; and his great-great-grandchildren, Chance, Landen, Falynn, Ryleigh, Declan, Reagan and Lucca.
Visitation will be 10-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 1 at Hunt & Son Funeral Home. Funeral services will begin at 11:30 a.m. Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery South. Services will be led by Steve Wilke.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Animal Welfare League, 1104 Big Four Arch Road, Crawfordsville, IN 47933; or the Blue Star Mothers, P.O. Box 801, Crawfordsville, IN 47933.
