William Robert “Billy Bob” Bowles, 85, of rural Veedersburg died at 11:25 a.m. Saturday Dec. 25, 2021, at Franciscan Health Crawfordsville, after being ill three weeks.
He was born May 16, 1936, at Oakwood, Illinois, the son of Harvey Bowles and Hazel (Miller) Bowles Inman.
Bob graduated from Oakwood High School in 1955. He was employed at Devro Teepak for 31 years, retiring in 1999. Before that he farmed in the Oakwood area. He attended Scotts Prairie Christian Church.
He collected antique tractors, large and small, and enjoyed going to tractor shows. He was a member of the Hoosier Two-Cylinder Club. His biggest enjoyment was his great-grandchildren, caring for his livestock and the late summer trips to the Smokey Mountain.
Survived by daughter Shawn Zilinski of Florida; two step-daughters, Carol (Arthur) Sellers of Covington and Anna M. Ward of Wheatland, California; grandson Jeffrey Zilinski, three step-grandchildren, Andrew T. Howard, Valerie A. Deaton and Anthony Sellers; six great-step grandchildren, Andrew T. Howard Jr., Hannah Grace Howard, Jadon Howard, Wyatt Deaton, Bryce Deaton and Sky Lynn Deaton; brother-in-law Samuel (Vivian) Merryman of Crawfordsville; sister-in-law Mary Ann Merryman of Perrysville; step-brother Charles (Hila) Inman of Catlin, Illinois; and step-sister-in-law Karen Inman of Oregon.
He was preceded in death by his wife; parents; an infant brother; a brother-in-law; two step-brothers; and a step-son.
Funeral services for him and his wife Jane will be at 2 p.m. EST Thursday, Dec. 30 at Shelby Funeral Home, Covington, with the Rev. Gerald Holdman officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery, Hillsboro. Visitation will be from noon until time of services at 2 p.m.
Online condolences to the family may be made at www.shelbyfuneralhome.com.
