James Kenneth “Ken” Bowman, 87, passed away on May 14, 2022, with his family by his side. Ken was the son of Joseph Arthur Bowman and Veronica Catherine (Wichman) Bowman born June 15, 1934, in Vincennes, Indiana.
On December 30, 1956, he married Shirley Ann Dudley, daughter of Marion Sylvan and Ella Marie Dudley of Bicknell. Ken and Ann’s courtship began following a local basketball game. The couple celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in December 2021. They have two daughters, Kelley Jean McCarty (John) and Kristi Renee’ Deetz of Vincennes.
A 1952 graduate of Central Catholic High School, Ken attended Indiana University. His freshman year he was a member of the IU Men’s Basketball Team coached by Branch McCracken. He was also a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
He then joined the United States Army and was stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Following an honorable discharge, he returned home and was a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service. After his retirement, he became a real estate broker working with Ken Snider Realty and F.C. Tucker Emge.
Ken was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. He was active in the Vincennes Jaycees and served as president. He was a lifetime member of Elks Lodge #0291 and a 65-year member of the National Association of Letter Carriers.
His greatest joys were spending time with family and following the many activities of his children and grandchildren. Whether he was at a basketball game, soccer match, dance recital, choir and band concert, or musical, he always had his camera in hand to preserve those special memories.
When his daughters joined the Clark Middle School/Lincoln High School band program, Ken served for 10 consecutive years as a board member including a term as president of the band boosters. Through this work, he assisted Oscar L Dunn, son of the first band director of Lincoln High School, to establish the Oscar L. Dunn, Sr. Memorial Scholarship. For over 30 years Ken served on the scholarship committee and presented these awards, on behalf of the Dunn family, to senior members of the LHS band who would be attending Vincennes University. Ken continued to be a loyal follower of the Pride of the Green Marching Band as all three of his grandchildren participated throughout their high school careers.
Ken cherished the many memories he and his wife shared at IU and remained a loyal fan of the Hoosiers.
Ken is survived by his wife, daughters, three grandchildren Kenneth Dewayne Deetz, Elizabeth Kay Deetz, and Evelyn Marie Crowley, brother Robert Eugene “Bob” Bowman (Shirley) of Dayton, Indiana, and four generations of nieces and nephews.
Ken was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Charles Edward Bowman, Arthur Louis Bowman, and Arnold Joseph “Burr” Bowman, Thomas and Paul Francis Bowman who died in infancy, and son-in-law Bradley D. Deetz.
Visitation will be held on Monday, May 23, 2022, from 5:00-8:00 PM EST at Goodwin-Sievers Funeral Home, 524 Broadway St. in Vincennes. A Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 803 Main Street in Vincennes, Indiana, with Rev. Tony Ernst officiating. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the James Kenneth Bowman Memorial Scholarship through the Vincennes University Foundation or online at vinu.edu/give.