Betty Joan Bowman

(Betty) Joan Davis Bowman, age 85, of Toledo, passed away on November 8, 2016. Joan was born on July 26, 1931 in Portsmouth, Ohio to John Claude and Leeta May (Shaw) Davis. Joan moved to Toledo while in high school and graduated from the former Libbey High School in 1949. Joan’s career in retail began while still in high school, with a job at Lamsons Department Store. After high school she was the secretary to the women’s sportswear buyer at The Lasalle & Koch Company. Joan was active in company chorus and bowling leagues. She also taught modeling and business ethics for Stautzenberger College. Joan was a lead model for two major department stores and a private secretary and lead business associate for a major construction company supplier. Joan met her future husband, Ron Bowman, on a blind date while he was a clerk at the Lion Store. They were married for over 62 years. Joan was a long-time member of the award-winning Sweet Adelines women’s barbershop chorus. In addition to singing, she designed some of their costumes and choreography. Joan was also an active volunteer around the Toledo area, including the American Red Cross and WGTE Public broadcasting for their auction and membership drives. She loved snowmobiling and golfing at Heatherdowns Country Club where she was a member for over 25 years and golfing and swimming at her second home in St. Petersburg, Florida. Joan is survived by her husband J. Ronald Bowman; daughters Cynthia (Sonny) Oyler of Louisville, KY and Brenda (Edward) Ridl of Dunwoody, GA; son Jamie Bowman of St. Petersburg, FL; brother Russell Davis of Toledo; sister Linda (Roger) Evans of Mobile, AL; four grandchildren and two great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents. Visitation will be held Friday, November 11 from 3:00-7:00 p.m. at Coyle Funeral Home, 1770 S. Reynolds Road. A Memorial Service will be held at Coyle on Saturday, November 12 at 10:00 a.m. followed by a private burial. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the University of Toledo College of Law or to a charity of the donor’s choice. Joan was an at-home hospice care patient with the Hospice of Northwest Ohio and continued with Senior Independence Hospice at Swan Creek Retirement Center. The family extends their thankfulness and gratitude to them. Please leave a condolence message for the family at CoyleFuneralHome.com.

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Betty Joan Bowman

July 26, 1931 - November 8, 2016