Ona Fay Bowman

Ona Fay Gilbert Bowman passed on to the Kingdom of Heaven on Wednesday, November 27, 2013 after a stroke. Born January 5, 1936 to the late Lacy and Goldie Burns Gilbert in Haysi, Virginia, where she was raised. She was preceded in death by her husband of 46 years, Charles “Luke” Bowman. She is survived by her siblings Bonnie Dodson, Floria Hay, Delmer Gilbert, Elizabeth Breeding, Norman Gilbert, and Retha Baird. She will be joining in Heaven her brothers Elmer Gilbert, Grady Gilbert, Gorman Gilbert, and Tivis “TT” Gilbert. She is survived by her children: Johnny Bowman and his wife, Nancy, Emma Dye, Billie Bowman, Nancy Thompson and her husband Tommy Thompson, Ellan Green and her husband Jerry Green, Charles Bowman and his wife, Annette, Kathren Garber and her husband Philip Garber, and Robert Bowman and his wife Angie. She also leaves behind grandchildren Ada “Nikki” Anderson and her husband Jarvis Anderson, Heather Westrick and her husband Jason Westrick, Justin Thompson, Phylicia Boone and her husband, Daniel Boone, Rachel Bowman, Kevin Garber, Talia Gantz, Amanda Bowman, Rebekah Bowman, Luke Bowman, and Victoria Bowman. She was also blessed to know her great-grandchildren, Jada Anderson, Peyton Anderson, Kylee Boone, and Luke Westrick. She is also survived by her dear friends, Rufus and Dema Miller. Ona loved to garden and her small backyard was always dotted with lilies, roses, daisies and, of course, her vegetables that she happily shared among her family and friends. While raising eight children with her husband, Ona was also a magnificent cook. Whether it was her homemade green beans or her famous biscuits and gravy, no one passed a chance to sit at her table. She was fond of traveling in her later years, from visiting family in Florida to enjoying Niagara Falls in her first voyage outside the country and as far west as the Badlands in South Dakota. She will be remembered for her strength and for the loving family that she leaves behind. Services will be held at TOBIAS FUNERAL HOME – BEAVERCREEK CHAPEL, 3970 Dayton-Xenia Road on Saturday, November 30, 2013 at 10 am. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Hospice of Dayton. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.tobiasfuneralhome.com.