Ruth Bowman

Ruth N. Bowman, 72, died at 8:49 a.m. April 14, 2009. She was born Jan. 21, 1937, in Elida to Walter A. and Naomi Baker Long, who preceded her in death. On Aug. 7, 1955, she married Orville Bowman, who survives in Elida. Mrs. Bowman was a homemaker and a member of the Ash Grove Old German Baptist Brethren Church. She volunteered at St. Rita?s Medical Center and with the special needs class at Elida Elementary. Survivors also include three sons, Gary (Lucille) Bowman, of Ferrum, Va., and Kevin (Jill) Bowman and Arlan (Paula) Bowman, both of Elida; a daughter, Darlene (Melvin) Benedict, of Greenville; 21 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren, all of whom she dearly loved; three brothers, Darrell (Marcine) Long, Glenn (Kathy) Long and Wayne (Cindy) Long, all of Elida; two sisters, Mae (Kenneth) Miller, of New Lebanon, and Janette (Glenn) Mohler, of Brookville; and two sistersin-law, Marlene Long, of Elida, and Chris Johnson, of Marion. She was preceded in death by a brother, Carl Long, and an infant sister, Gladys Long. Services will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Ash Grove Old German Baptist Brethren Church. Burial will be in Ash Grove Cemetery, Lima. Home Brethren will officiate. Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. today, 2 to 5 and 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at Chamberlain-Huckeriede Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 740 Commerce Drive, Suite B, Perrysburg, OH 43551; or to the Elida Emergency Squad.