Obituary of Robert Raymond Bowman

Robert (Bob) Bowman, loving husband, father and grandfather passed peacefully with family at his side on 1/12/22 at 79 years old. He was born to Monty Bowman and Hazel Heurkens on March 2, 1942. He spent his first few years with his grandparents in Whitehall, Montana while his mother worked in California and his father served in Word War II. Brother William (Babe) joined the family in 1945. The Air Force stationed them around the world including the Philippians, Libya, and France. Bob graduated from Great Falls High School in 1960. He enlisted in the Air Force 1961-65 as an airplane mechanic and traveled to Japan and Southeast Asia. Following his service, he returned to Montana and began a 30 year career with Mountain Bell (US West). He married Patricia Wax on February 1, 1969. Their wedding day was an adventure as a blizzard required some family members to arrive to the church by snowmobile. Together they raised three daughters in Missoula. In 2014, they moved to Washougal, Washington to be closer to their daughters and grandchildren. Bob was a hardworking and dedicated family man who spent many hours working on cars, remodeling the family home, and working outside. He was always one to help and nobody would be surprised to see him clearing snow from a neighbor's driveway. In later years, he researched an extensive family genealogy. He never lost his sharp and wry sense of humor. He was loved and will be greatly missed by his wife Pat, daughters Jody, Bobbie (Giovanni), and Lori (Brian), grandchildren Brody, Luna, and Giana and extended family and friends in Montana and beyond. Services are planned for summer 2022 at the Western Montana State Veterans Cemetery in Missoula.