Lillian W. Bowman

Lillian Rebecca Wilson Bowman, 85, of Cape Coral, FL, was called home on September 7, 2020, with her loving family by her side.

She was born to the late Frederick and Louise Marie Weigle Wilson, October 3, 1934, in McKeesport, Pennsylvania.  Lil graduated from McKeesport High School and received a BA in Education from Penn State University, as well as a Masters Degree in Education from the University of Louisville, where she was honored and recognized as the class valedictorian.

Lil married in June of 1956 to Earl Miller Bowman and they were blessed with 64 years together.  The couple resided in several states, including Pennsylvania, New York, Kentucky, Ohio and Florida.  Because of their many addresses, Lil sometimes referred to herself as, “The Red-Headed Carpet Bagger from Pennsylvania”.  Lil is survived by her three grateful children: Tory (Larry) Counen, of Carmel, Indiana, Dirk (Virginia) Bowman, of Bonita Springs, Florida, and Kerry (Rob) Howard, of Cape Coral, Florida.  She was tremendously devoted to her 7 surviving grandchildren:  Dirk Wilson (Leslie) Bowman Jr., of Bloomington, Indiana, Kory Crawford Bowman, of Louisville, Kentucky, Kortney Roxanne Bowman, of Louisville, Kentucky, Garrett  William Howard, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Cole Miller Howard, of Seattle, Washington, Ethan Lawrence Counen, of Carmel, Indiana, and Rebecca Joanne Counen, of Carmel, Indiana.  Lil is also survived by three great grandchildren: Gage Layne, Presley Jane, and Aayla Rey, all from Bloomington, Indiana.  In addition, she is survived by two brothers:  Frederick Wilson, from Maryland, and Richard (Patricia) Bryant Wilson, from California.

Lil was an award-winning educator and logged nearly 30 years teaching at the junior high and high school levels.  Her specialty and expertise was instruction for AP Chemistry classes, and she was very proud of the fact that, over the years, she enabled a number of very worthy students to receive admissions into some of this nations’ most prestigious universities and academies.  During the Clinton administration, Lil was honored by our president in Washington, DC, and personally presented with the “US Presidential Scholars “award representing the state of Kentucky; a student-nominated honor and distinction.  She was passionate about art,  and was an accomplished painter and stain glass craftswoman, ( a hobby she shared with her husband, Earl).  One of Lil’s greatest joys was her love of animals- we are sure she was warmly greeted at the “Rainbow Bridge” by Rusty, Karch, Lucy, Black Dog, Pansey, Beauregard, Shamrock, Yankee, Big S, Flintstone, and Mitten-the-Kitten.  But mostly, Lil was fiercely dedicated to her family, and leaves behind many cherished memories. 

A private, family service will take place later in the fall.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Humane Society of the United States.  The account in listed under “Tory Counen’s Campaign”, in memory of Lillian W. Bowman.  Please follow the link below to send your gift- thank you! 

https://secure.humanesociety.org/site/TR/?px=14627593&fr_id=1175&pg=personal&s_src=sh_mh_twppmem

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.