William “Bill” Bowman passed away Sunday, September 23, 2018 at age 72. Bill served in the US Air Force during the Vietnam War. He studied Chinese at Yale University while in the Air Force. He flew with reconnaissance teams as a translator while stationed in Vietnam. He was awarded the Air Medal for courage and successful missions in sustained aerial flights with the 6988th Security Squadron. Bill was an avid Chiefs fan who loved Arrowhead and away games. An avid bowler, Bill loved the sport of bowling His on the lane accomplishments were many, including a 300 game, but his devotion to the sport lead him to be an ambassador for the MO State and Northwest Zone BPAA. He directed the Missouri Team Challenge for ten years making friends across the state. Bill was also devoted to Gladstone Bowl and its league bowlers. His bowling family was very important to him, and maybe especially, his Brunch Bunch girls. In younger years, Bill loved skiing Colorado with his son Jim. He loved the mountains and road trips. He loved his family and is survived by his wife Vicki, son Jim (Daphne) Bowman, brother Charles (Cindi) Bowman, step-children Tiffany Moore, Tim (Stacey) Corrado, Ericka Waller and eight grandchildren.
A visitation will be held from 1-2:30 pm Sunday, September 30th with a memorial service starting at 2:30 pm, both held at D.W. Newcomer’s White Chapel, 6600 NE Antioch Rd., Gladstone, MO 64119. In lieu of flowers family suggests memorial gifts to the Pulmonary Hypertension Unit at K.U. Medical Center or St Jude's Children's Hospital.