Rachele Bowman

Major Rachele Lorena (Holt) Bowman was born on September 16, 1942, in Winthrop, AR. As a young girl, she insisted on changing the spelling of her name from the traditional form to the unique spelling she used because she wanted to be different. It was just the start of a life spent making a difference.

As a young teen, her family relocated to Oklahoma City after a tragic accident injured her father. There, after receiving help from a caring lady at The Salvation Army, the family began attending the Oklahoma City Citadel Corps. Rachele soon became fully involved in the corps, eventually earning her General’s Guard award and graduating Corps Cadets. Before long this beautiful young woman with brunette waves attracted the attention of the son of the lady who had first met the family and whose invitation provided far more than just food that day.

In 1961 Rachele married Don, and they settled into life as newlyweds. After the birth of their first two children and following a visit to her brother in Denver, the young family moved to Colorado, which became home. There, three more children were added to the family while Rachele and Don served as soldiers and local officers of the Denver Citadel Corps. In 1973, they received the call to serve as Salvation Army Officers. After their initial appointment as Administrators of the Denver Harbor Light Center, they served as Corps Officers in Pueblo, CO, Ogden, UT, Greeley, CO, Laramie, WY, Bozeman, MT, Denver West Adams, CO, Boulder/Broomfield, CO, and Billings MT.

Retiring in 2006, they moved to Tehachapi, CA, to be closer to their children and grandchildren.

In retirement, Rachele discovered her extended family, reconnecting to parts of her history she had not known while growing up. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, proudly tracing her ancestors to the founding of the United States.

In 2020, Don and Rachele decided it was time to go back home, and they returned to their Oklahoma roots.

Rachele was Promoted to Glory peacefully early on Sunday morning, July 21, 2024. She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Roxie Holt; her thirteen siblings; her beloved husband of 61 years, Don; and her daughter, Deanna.

She is survived by her children, David (Cami), Donna, Daniel (Gail), and Darren; twelve grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren, all of whom she loved with all her heart; and numerous nieces and nephews.