Charles Arthur Bowman

Charles Arthur Bowman, 82, lived a full life until August 14th, 2025, when he left his earthly home for his heavenly home with the Lord. Charles was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, for which there is no cure. Charles fought the disease as he lived his life–with courage, strength, and determination. Charles was born on October 25th, 1942, in Vinita, Oklahoma, to loving parents, Arthur Dean “Dee” and Evelyn Hope (Crocker) Bowman. His family followed his father, who served in the US Air Force during WWII, from the Chelsea, Oklahoma area to California and Ohio before finally returning to make their home in Nowata, Oklahoma, after the war ended. Charles attended elementary school through high school in Nowata, graduating from Nowata High School in 1960. He continued his education first at Northeastern A&M College in Miami, Oklahoma, then at Northeastern State College in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, on a baseball scholarship. He was a member of the Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity while at Northeastern State College. He received his bachelor's degree in chemistry with a minor in physics and education, and his master's degree in counseling. His career in teaching led him to Wentzville, Missouri, Salina, Kansas, Mount Vernon, Missouri, Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and Nowata, Oklahoma. Charles took great pride in positively impacting his students both in the classroom and while coaching basketball and baseball. He became an Independent Oil Producer after his father’s death, taking over his father’s share of B & N Oil Company, a partnership with Franz Needham of Chelsea, Oklahoma. He owned royalty interests and operated shallow waterflood oil wells in the Delaware/Childers, Oklahoma area. The US Department of Energy and NIPER conducted a microbial enhanced waterflooding pilot project on his area wells from 1986 to 1989. Charles’ interests included baseball, golf, hunting, flying, photography, and music. He avidly supported the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team. He found solace in listening to music, including John Denver, the Bee Gees, ABBA, Elvis, and gospel music. He had a sharp sense of humor and a habit of telling incredibly corny jokes. He was a lifelong learner and continued to use his love of science and mathematics throughout his life. He loved being able to study nature, studying all of God’s creation. He could often be found using his telescope to study the stars, looking through binoculars at birds, studying the migratory patterns of monarchs, or perched with pen and paper taking meticulous notes about the world around him. He always enjoyed learning and sharing his knowledge. Charles married Sondra (Walker) Bowman on October 20th, 1988, at the Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. They shared the last 36 years together in love, friendship, and devotion. He is survived by his wife, Sondra (Walker) Bowman, of the home; children, Kathryn “Nikki” (Blake) Ellsworth and Kari (Marcus) Lyle; his cousin, Nancy (Glenn) Sweet; & grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his paternal grandparents Cooper and Chloe (Jordan) Bowman, his maternal grandparents Charles and Myrtle (Littrell) Crocker, and by his son Kevin Dean Bowman. Mere words fail to encompass all of who Charles was. He always helped others above himself. His kindness, gentle strength, and clever wit will be missed by all who knew him. Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, September 4th, 2025, at the Benjamin Memorial Chapel with Dr. Rick Frie officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Benjamin Funeral Home in Nowata, Oklahoma.