Anna Ruth Bowman

Anna Ruth Bowman, 90, of New Carlisle, IN, formerly of Springfield, passed away at 10:05 a.m. Wednesday, November 27, 2013 following an extended illness. Anna was born June 8, 1923 in Union City, TN, the daughter of Alf and Alice (Coburn) Collins. She married Raymond W. Bowman on May 23, 1942 in St. Louis, MO; he preceded her in death. The couple and their children spent several years serving as Lutheran missionaries in Nigeria before returning to St. Louis and eventually moving to northern Illinois. Anna drove 100 miles roundtrip each day for two years to earn her bachelor's degree in 1974 with honors from Northern Illinois University. Prior to that, she attended Sauk Valley College in Dixon, IL, where she received the Student Recognition Achievement Award in 1972. She later taught at Sauk Valley and substitute taught at Dixon High School before substituting for District 186 and teaching English as a second language at Lawrence Adult Education Center, both in Springfield. In 1989, Anna was awarded a Lindbergh Foundation grant to support the Grow-a-Tree Program at Trees for Life International in Wichita, KS, where she served for several years as a volunteer. In addition to her husband, she was also preceded in death by four sisters and two brothers. Anna is survived by sons, Raymond (wife, Laurel) Phelps-Bowman of Rochester, MN; Christopher (wife, Tami) Bowman of South Bend, IN; and Ugo (wife, Julie) Okoro of Brookfield, WI; daughters, Kathryn (husband, George) Goeddey of Carrollton, IL; Alice (husband, Bob) Hray of Joliet, IL; Nancy (husband, Butch Sr.) Stilwell of Springfield; and Carolyn Bowman of Rochester, MN; sixteen grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Private family ceremonies and interment were held at Camp Butler National Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Trees for Life International, 3006 W. St. Louis, Wichita, KS 67203 or www.treesforlife.org.