Edson R. Bowman, 64, who had lived in Sturgis and vicinity for the past 40 years, was the victim of a heart attack last night [August 7, 1944] on the Charles Seeb farm. Death, which occurred at eight o’clock, came after Mr. Bowman had desperately worked to prevent a grass fire from spreading on his farm two miles from Sturgis on South Nottawa Road.
Mr. Bowman had decided to burn off a dried-up pasturage area near his home which got beyond his control. Even with his wife giving assistance by carrying water it became evident that fire apparatus would have be summoned to save the buildings so Mr. Bowman drove to the Seeb farm and asked Roy Penn, a tenant there, to summon the fires truck. He then collapsed in the kitchen and died a few minutes later. A physician, who was called, and Coroner T. W. Gelsler attributed death to a heart attack due to overexertion. It was learned that Mr. Bowman had been in ill health for the past several months.
Born in Hartford City, Ind., Jan. 5, 1880, Mr. Bowman was a son of Sylvester and Dorcas (Simonton) Bowman. His early life and two years following his marriage to Lena Tozer in Muncie, April 18, 1902, were spent in Hartford City. The couple then moved to Sturgis where Mr. Bowman was employed by the Scovill Manufacturing Company. He had worked there for 33 years.
Surviving besides the widow, at home, are four daughters, Mrs. Crystal Joselson of Oceanside, Calif., Mrs. Elsie Hovarter of near Sturgis, Mrs. Edna Plucinski of Sturgis and Miss DeLora Bowman of Oceanside, Calif.; a son, Pvt. Virgil Bowman, stationed overseas; three brothers, Rueben Bowman of LeRoy, Mich., Ross Bowman of Flint, Mich., and Frank Bowman of near Centerville, and a sister Mrs. Edith Barnell of Scott, Ind. Surviving also are five grandchildren, one great grandchild and nieces and nephews.
Friends will be received at the Bowman residence two miles from Sturgis on South Nottawa Road. Services will be conducted at the Foglesong Funeral Home Saturday at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Walter F. Jacobs officiating. Interment will be made in Oak Lawn Cemetery.
Contributed by: Shelli Steedman