Arvil Coolidge Bowman, age 89, formerly of Ararat, VA, and recently of Mount Airy, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at the Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice Home in Dobson. He was born on February 19, 1935, to the late Pet R. and Gertha Collins Bowman. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Judy Bowman Angel and Vivian Bowman Joyce, and one brother Clayton P. Bowman. Coolidge graduated from Blue Ridge High School in 1954. He served in the U.S. Air Force. He retired from the Virginia Department of Transportation.
Left to cherish his memories are his wife of 58 years, Mary Sue Groseclose Bowman; one son, Christopher Layne Bowman (Lynn) of Wake Forest, NC; two daughters, Elizabeth Bowman Martin of Mount Airy, NC, and Kara Bowman Langford (Paul) of East Greenwich, RI; six grandchildren, Lauren Bowman Wright (Jay), Grant Christopher Bowman, Everett Samuel Martin, Sarah Elizabeth Martin, Nathaniel Paul Langford, and Reagan Victoria Langford; one step-grandson, Ryan James Spear; two great grandchildren, Wesley Calvin Wright and Landon James Wright; and several nieces and nephews.
He loved hunting, fishing and gardening. He especially enjoyed spending time on his farm with his horses and riding four wheelers. He will be remembered for his humor and being a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend.
The funeral for Mr. Bowman will be held at Moody Funeral Home in Mount Airy on Friday, September 13, 2024, at 11:00 a.m., with the Reverend Daniel Miller officiating. A private burial will follow at the Bowman Family Cemetery on Squirrel Creek Road in Ararat, VA. The family will receive friends at 10:00 a.m. before the service at Moody Funeral Home. The family requests in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Joan & Howard Woltz Hospice Home, 945 Zephyr Road, Dobson, NC 27017.
