Earl W. "Bill" Bowman, Jr.

Earl William “Bill” Bowman, Jr., age 79 of Mexico, IN passed away on Monday February 2, 2026, at Community Howard Regional Health in Kokomo. He was born on February 11, 1946, in Peru, to Earl Sr. and Rhea (Saltz) Bowman. On June 18, 1966, at Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Chicago Bill married Mary V. Hoagland of Mexico, IN, who survives him. Bill was a 1964 Graduate of Peru High School. He served 4 years in the US Navy where he received the Navy Achievement Medal. Following the navy, he worked two years at the C&O Railroad and then spent 34 years in payroll at the Chrysler Transmission Plant in Kokomo prior to retirement. He was also a member of UAW Local 1302. Bill was also a member of the Miami Nation of Indians of Indiana. Bill enjoyed spending time as a lifetime member of the Peru Moose Lodge #249 and the Literary Aid Society in Peru. He was also member of the American Legion. Bill loved to take his daily 3-mile walks and treasured traveling to Colorado to take his walks while enjoying the mountain scenery. He was an avid reader, and you would often find him sitting in the sun immersed in one of his books. Bill cherished spending time playing Euchre and visiting with family and friends. He loved his cat Suzy and took great care of the outside neighborhood cats and liked feeding the birds. He attended St. Charles Borromeo church in Peru and found joy in watching on-line services from LifeBridge Christian Church in Longmont where he would attend when in Colorado. Bill took many trips to try his luck at the casinos. He was proud of being a member of the grandpa club, which consisted of grandfathers who would pick up and drop off their grandchildren at school. Bill is also survived by his children, Michelle Reid and her husband Bill of Longmont, CO, Kim Wagle and her husband Reg of South Bend, and Linda Truex and her husband Ryan of Peru. Bill has five grandchildren, Kayla Bristlin and her husband Josh, Allyson Krause and her husband Mitchell, Peyton Reid and his wife Kayla, Zach Truex and Megan Truex. He is also survived by four great-grandchildren, Adeline, Madison, Lily and August. He was preceded in death by his parents and his two siblings, Larry Mosher and Susan Bowman. Memorial donations may be made to the Mooseheart: www.mooseheart.org Per the family wishes, there will be no public services.

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