14. Earl B. Bowman

14. Earl B. Bowman (1908-1971) Age 63
15. Velma Lucille Fitzwater (1913-2000) Age 86

Earl B. Bowman - 1935

Earl B. Bowman was born 16 Jun 1908 in Norwood, Hamilton County, Ohio. He was the son of William Earl and Willie Grace (Chapple) Bowman.

The 1910 Census shows Earl at age 2 living with his family at 2215 Monroe Avenue in Norwood, Hamilton County, Ohio.

Earl and his brother, Richard are mentioned in The Cincinnati Enquirer 29 Jun 1919 as a few of the pupils of Annabelle B. Thomas who would be heard in a recital the following evening. The entire family had musical talent and often spent time playing and singing together.

The 1920 Census shows Earl at age 11 living with his family at 4304 Ashland Avenue in Norwood, Hamilton County, Ohio.

Family legend has it that Earl played the saxophone in a local band and while his future bride was in high school, the band performed there for a dance. He fell hard for the dark-haired beauty with the big smile. Earl would come "courting" to her house, and if she happened to be out with one of her other beaus, he would spend time visiting with her mother. Something in his plan must have worked, because she fell for him just as hard as he fell for her.

The 1930 Census shows Earl at age 22 living with his family at 6650 Dante Avenue in Silverton, Hamilton County, Ohio. He works as a Clerk for an Insurance Company.

The Cincinnati Enquirer 10 Aug 1931

Earl B. Bowman and Velma Lucille Fitzwater on their wedding day 15 Aug 1931.

Marriage Certificate for Earl Bowman and Velma Fitzwater issued by the Probate Court of Hamilton County, Ohio.

On 15 Aug 1931, Earl married Velma Lucille Fitzwater at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Norwood.

Earl and Velma became parents to five children:
-Velma Jean "Jean" Bowman
-James Arthur "Jim" Bowman (1936-2006)
-Richard Earl "Dick" Bowman
-Christine Sue "Chris" Bowman
-Earl Jeffrey "Jeff" Bowman

The 1940 Census shows Earl at age 32 living with Velma and their kids on Spring Street in Plainville, Hamilton County, Ohio. Velma was the informant and indicates Earl works as a Machinist for a Machine Tool Manufacturing Company. The household enumerated before theirs was Velma's parents, Wright and Effie Rue Fitzwater, but there are a number of errors in the information that was given.

Selective Service Registration Certificate for Earl B. Bowman 16 Oct 1940 (front)

Selective Service Registration Certificate for Earl B. Bowman 16 Oct 1940 (back)

Earl traveled a great deal for his job, and collected items from many of the cities he visited. Velma often would take him to catch the train at Union Terminal; his love of trains continued his entire life.

Union Terminal, Cincinnati, Ohio

In the late 1940's, Earl and Velma moved their family to Memphis, Tennessee.

Velma, Jim, Dick, Jean, and Earl in Memphis, Tennessee - 1948 or 1949

By 1950, they were back in Ohio.

Eventually, Earl and Velma built a home in Loveland in the Stoneybrook subdivision and moved there with their family. Two of their kids, Jim and Jean, also built homes and moved there with their respective spouses and families in the early 1960's.

The Stoneybrook Subdivision in Loveland became home to Earl and Velma and their family.

Family of Earl B. Bowman

Father:
William Earl Bowman
Mother:
Willie Grace Chapple

Spouse(s):
Velma Lucille Fitzwater

Children:
Velma Jean "Jean" Bowman
James Arthur "Jim" Bowman
Richard Earl "Dick" Bowman
Christine Sue "Chris" Bowman
Earl Jeffrey "Jeff" Bowman

His middle name: Brain or Brane?

Grandpa always hated his middle name, but I don't know why. Grandma told me it was Brain and that he never used it. His grandmother's maiden name was Brain, so that made sense, at least to me. Perhaps he knew about the notorious scoundrel who was her father? If he did, he didn't talk about it.

It appears that the few times he had to use it, he spelled it Brane. His Birth Certificate was no help, being a Delayed Registration in 1952 with him as the informant.

When given the choice, he always used Earl B. Bowman. Out of respect for his preference, we'll just stick with that.

1910 Census for Norwood, Hamilton County, Ohio, showing Earl Bowman and family starting on Line 77.

1920 Census for Norwood, Hamilton County, Ohio, showing Earl and family starting on Line 96. The family is continued on the next page (not shown here), showing that his Grandmother Clara Bell Bowman Chapple is still living with them.

1930 Census for Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio, showing Earl Bowman and family starting on Line 82.

The Cincinnati Enquirer 18 Apr 1939

1940 Census for Plainville, Hamilton County, Ohio, showing Earl Bowman and his family starting on Line 8. Velma's parents are enumerated in the household above.

The Cincinnati Enquirer 26 Sep 1940

Tennessee Operator's License Issued 8 Jun 1949 for Earl Bowman (front).

Tennessee Operator's License Issued 8 Jun 1949 for Earl Bowman (back).

Earl B. Bowman Delayed Birth Registration - Birth Record Journal Entries, Case No. BR 9740

Earl B. Bowman Delayed Birth Registration - Birth Record Journal Entry of 13 Feb 1952

In Jul 1953 Earl was praised in a letter from the Rudisill Foundry Company that was then included in the Oct 1953 Lodge and Shipley Bulletin.

At age 63, Earl died 21 Nov 1971 of coronary insufficiency. He is buried in Rest Haven Memorial Park in Blue Ash, Hamilton County, Ohio.

(Newspaper clipping with no source info.)

EARL BOWMAN

Services will be held Wednesday, November 24, for Earl Bowman, 813 Marbea Drive. He died Sunday night at Bethesda North Hospital. He was 63.

He is survived by his wife, Velma, and five children, Jean Dugan, James, Richard, Christine and Jeffrey. He also leaves two brothers, Norwood and Richard Bowman, and six grandchildren.

Burial will be in Rest Haven cemetery.

(Another newspaper clipping with no source info.)

Earl Bowman

LOVELAND - Services for Earl Bowman, 63, 813 Marbea Drive, who died Nov. 21 at Cincinnati Bethesda North Hospital, were Nov. 24 with burial in Rest Haven Cemetery.

He leaves his wife, Velma; two daughters, Mrs. Jean Dugan, and Miss Christine Bowman, and three sons, James, Richard, and Jeffery.