Charles Harold Bowman, 99, of 313 Burlington Road, Jackson, Ohio, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 3, 2016 at the Broward Health North Hospital, Lighthouse Point, Florida. He was born on August 26, 1916 in Oak Hill, Ohio, son of the late Charles A. and Elizabeth Ward Bowman. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Ernestine (Herb) Jones and Gladys (Paul) Foster.
Harold attended Oak Hill High School where he played football and graduated in 1934. He attended Ohio State University and was a walk-on player for the Ohio State Buckeyes as a punter until sustaining a knee injury. He became a Noble of the Mystic Shrine in the Aladdin Temple of Columbus, Ohio on December 6, 1946.
Harold was known as Hector by his early friends and the coal industry. His coal mining career, spanning over 60 years, started in Waterloo, Ohio. In 1954 Harold purchased the Waterloo Coal Company from its three founders and moved the operation from Waterloo to Oak Hill. While operating Waterloo Coal, he successfully brought new coal preparation and innovative mining techniques to this area while making his employees a priority.
His hobbies and passions were traveling, dancing, fishing, boating, spending summers in Canada and flying airplanes. He was a private pilot and flew as far away as Europe and South America. He loved Swing Era music and took dancing lessons from the Arthur Murray Studio, for many years winning several competition trophies. He spent much of his later years at his home in Florida.
Harold is survived by his wife of 35 years, Billie Gilmore Bowman, and his six children with first wife, Marjorie Dillon Bowman, who preceded him in death: Keith Bowman, Phil (Diana) Bowman, Charlotte (Richard) Sargeant, Rita (Richard) Edwards, Daniel Bowman and Brian (Sally) Bowman. Also surviving is stepdaughter Rebecca (Dave) Blake, 13 grandchildren, one step grandson and 11 great-grandchildren.
Burial and graveside services will be held at the convenience of the family in Oak Hill. Funeral arrangements will be under the direction of Lewis & Gillum Funeral Homes of Oak Hill, Ohio.