Mabel I. Bowman, 99, of Macomb, formerly of Canton and Astoria, died at 7:17 p.m. July 2, 2012, at McDonough District Hospital in Macomb.
She was born Sept. 11, 1912, near Ipava, a daughter of George H. and Fannie Bucher Stambaugh. She married Merlyn W. Bowman on June 5, 1938, in Ipava. He preceded her in death on Sept. 20, 1993.
She also was preceded in death by eight sisters; four brothers; and one great-grandson, Dayton Bowman.
Surviving are one son, David (and Carolyn) Bowman of Sciota; four grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
She graduated from Astoria High School as valedictorian in 1930. She attended Western Illinois Teachers College and taught school at three country schools, Howard, Whealdon and Elliott.
Along with her husband, they pastored Liberty Church of the Brethren for five years. She and Merlyn lived on the Bowman family farm near Summum 27 years and then moved to the retirement "Palmer" farm on the Ipava Blacktop in 1972. They moved to East Elm Apartments in Canton in 1989. The last few years, she has lived at the Elms in Macomb.
She was a member of Woodland Church of the Brethren since 1923. She was active there as a teacher, on committees and as a deaconess. She served as church treasurer a number of years. She was president of Church of the Brethren's Women's Fellowship of the District of Illinois and Wisconsin for two terms.
Services were held Friday at Shawgo Memorial Home in Astoria with Pastor Kevin Kessler officiating. Burial was in Woodland Cemetery in Astoria.
Memorials may be made to Camp Emmanuel, Astoria.
Current Obituaries in the Astoria South Fulton Argus