MARION – Belva Behlow Bowman, 81, of Marion, and a summer resident of Webster Lake, made her transition Jan. 12, 2013. She was born in Rib Lake, Wis., to R.D. and Eve Behlow. In 1950, she married Robert Rader, who died in 1953. She then married James W. Bowman in 1954 and they were married 58 years before he died April 12, 2012. She moved to Marion in 1947 and was a graduate of Marion High School, where she was a majorette in the marching band. She also attended Ball State University. She was a homemaker, a church soloist, pianist and organist for many years. She was a distant cousin of Jennie Jerome, the American mother of Winston Churchill who was referred to as “Cousin Winnie”. She was a member of First Church of Christ, Scientist, Warsaw, and Boston, Mass.; past president of Beta Associate Chapter of Tri Kappa Sorority. She was also a member of the Lyric Club; the Delphian Study Club; the Organ Historical Society; the Hostess House; Marion-Grant County Humane Society; Literacy Council; Tippecanoe Lake Country Club; and attended Temple Congregational United Church of Christ where, she sang in the choir. She also sang in the Ave Maria Chorus of the Easter Pageant for many years. She studied Spanish for several years and enjoyed using it when she and her husband went to Mexico every year for many years. She also taught English to Spanish speaking peoples, and was a Laubach Reading Tutor. Surviving are a daughter, Diane (and spouse David) Poole, Marion; a son, Bruce (and spouse Mindy) Bowman, Carmel; four grandchildren: Darcy (and spouse Sean) Grindle; Beverly Poole; and Samantha and Blake Bowman; a brother, Bruce Behlow, Batavia, Ohio; and a nephew, Charles Behlow, Cincinnati, Ohio. Services will be at 3 p.m. today at Raven-Choate Funeral Home, 1202 Kem Road, Marion, with the Rev. Marv Wiseman officiating. Burial will be in Estates of Serenity Cemetery, Marion. Calling was Wednesday at the funeral home. ***** Memorials may be made to the Marion-Grant County Humane Society, 505 S. Miller Ave, Marion, IN 46952.
