Dick Delford Bowman

Dick Delford Bowman, a lifelong resident of Shenandoah County and a well-known businessman and farmer, passed away on June 14, 2018, at Shenandoah Memorial Hospital. Along with many other achievements, Bowman was an early supporter of SMH. Dick was born on August 17, 1928, in Hamburg, Va., the son of Joyce Dellinger Bowman and Joseph Earl Bowman. He is survived by his wife, Barbara R. Bowman, and three children: Sharon Campbell and husband, Walter; Glenna MacKenzie and husband, Earle; and Philip Bowman and wife, Rebecca. Grandchildren include Heather MacKenzie (husband Mark Higgins), Alex MacKenzie (wife Nikki), Jason Bowman (wife Harrigan), Aaron Bowman (companion Tess Smedley), and Jacob Bowman (wife Jessica). The names of his great-grandchildren are Cory, Madison, Charlotte, James, Conley, Alden, Grayson, Savarin, and Sorrell. A nephew, Joseph Bowman, also survives along with his wife Sharon and daughters Whitney and Brittany. Dick is survived by an older brother, Twyman Elmore Bowman (wife Lois) residing in Newport News. An older brother, Wilbur Alden Bowman, preceded him in death. Dick graduated from Triplett High School in Mount Jackson, from Shenandoah College, Dayton, Va., in 1947, and from Strayer College, Washington, DC, in 1949 with a degree in accounting. He began his career delivering feed to poultry growers for a local mill while also raising turkey eggs. In 1955, he and his older brother, Wilbur Alden, formed Bowman Brothers, a John Deere tractor and equipment dealership in Mt. Jackson, and he also began an Angus cattle and sheep operation. From those beginnings, Dick continued to grow his farm and his business, acquiring properties near his home on South Middle Rd, where he and Barbara lived on the original Bowman homeplace which was designated a Virginia Century Farm. Dick and Barbara were fortunate and unusual in that all three children, two grandchildren, and five great-grand children all live close to the Bowman farm. Bowman was a charter member of the Hamburg Ruritans (1956), developing the concept of the Shenandoah County Citizens Scholarship Foundation to provide funds to worthy students. He was acknowledged for 54 years of community service to the Ruritans. Dick was elected director of Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative in 1970, serving 38 years and recipient of its “director emeritus” award in 2008; elected director of Rockingham Mutual Insurance Co in Harrisonburg, Va (1978); elected director of Shenandoah Telecommunications Co., in Edinburg, Va (1980) and treasurer in 1984, retiring from Shentel after 23 years; and elected director to Old Dominion Electric Coop, Glen Allen, Va., (1993). His community service was a natural accompaniment to his Christian responsibilities: Dick was a member of Otterbein Chapel UMC since 1950, serving as treasurer beginning in 1952, Sunday school teacher, trustee, and many mundane duties, such as greeting congregants, helping at Easter sunrise services, parking cars, etc. While the John Deere dealership was dear to his heart, Dick relished farm life and wanted to know how the crops and the cattle were faring. He was honored that his son and grandsons wanted to carry on the farming tradition along South Middle Rd. John Deere memorabilia, from toys to paper goods to an unparalleled collection of restored and unrestored Deere machinery, were his hobbies. He also enjoyed tracing his genealogy back seven generations from Pennsylvania with the original homeplace on display at Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton, Va. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Heishman Funeral Service, Inc., 14116 S. Middle Rd., Edinburg, Va. 22824. A memorial service will be held at Otterbein Chapel United Methodist Church, 8514 S. Middle Rd., Mt. Jackson, Va. 22842 on Tuesday, June 19, 2018, at 11 AM with Rev. Darlene Wilkins and Pastor Lisa Coffelt officiating. Burial will be private at Christ United Church of Christ in Conicville, Va.

Dick Delford Bowman

August 17, 1928 - June 14, 2018