1917
Virginia
2008
Virginia Barcus Bowman
February 23, 1917 — October 25, 2008
Virginia B. Bowman
Virginia Barcus Bowman "shuffled off this mortal coil" at the age of 91 on October 25, 2008, from complications of Parkinson's disease. She lived a busy and successful life.
She was born February 23, 1917, in Mt. Pleasant, Ohio to Levi and Florence Randolph Barcus. Her father died before she was born. She grew up in the Ohio River Valley, moving to Manchester in 1929. After graduating from Barberton High School at the age of 16, she went on to the Actual Business College and graduated in 1935 with a major in accounting. In August, 1942, she married Lawrence L. Bowman, a teacher in the Barberton Schools, who had been her biology teacher in high school. They had three children. Virginia felt that one of her greatest accomplishments was the two-week summer road trips her family took starting in 1956, visiting 48 states over seven years.
In 1935 Virginia went to work for the Akron Board of Education. As a second job in 1938, Virginia started working as the secretary at Akron Night High School. She enjoyed it so much she stayed until 1967, even though it was a second job. In 1954 she was named Manager of Ohio Parking, becoming one of only a handful of women managing parking facilities in the U.S. The parking facility was used by the Shrine Circus to board the elephants and horses when performing at the old Armory. Virginia got along so well with the circus crew they arranged for her to ride an elephant, a life highlight! Virginia continued her career as Controller of Rempel Manufacturing, Secretary-Treasurer and Controller at Hale and Kullgren, Engineers, Chief Executive Officer of FC Machine, and Controller at Portage Broom & Brush. In 1993 she took the job of Assistant Controller of Green Hills Management, begrudgingly retiring in 2001 at the age of 84.
Virginia served on numerous boards including the Ohio Ballet, Junior Achievement, Private Industry Council and the Women's Board of Arc. She was a member of Quota Club of Akron for 30 years. In 1989 she was elected the first woman Chairperson of the Better Business Bureau Board of Akron. She belonged to both the Akron City Club and Cascade Club.
Virginia was preceded in death by her mother in 1979 and by her husband, Larry, in 1984. She is survived by her three children, Florence Riazian husband Isa, Dwight Bowman wife Linda Chavez, and Patricia Hiss husband Karl; her grandchildren, Anastasia Bowman, Maryam Riazian, Vanessa Bowman, Madeline Bowman, and Karl Hiss Jr.; her close friend, Ruth Johnson and Brenda Mishler, daughter by friendship.
The family wishes to thank the Visiting Nurse Hospice, Renata and all the nurses and employees who cared so much, as well as the aides from Hanson Services, especially Kathryn and Olga, who came early and stayed late when needed.
Friends may call from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 85 N. Miller Rd, Akron. A graveside service will be held at Greenlawn Memorial Park at 10 a.m. Monday. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Visiting Nurse, 3358 Ridgewood Rd., Akron, OH 44333, or ARC of Summit & Portage Counties, Suite 109, 3869 Darrow Rd, Stow, OH 44224.
Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel
Virginia Barcus Bowman "shuffled off this mortal coil" at the age of 91 on October 25, 2008, from complications of Parkinson's disease. She lived a busy and successful life.
She was born February 23, 1917, in Mt. Pleasant, Ohio to Levi and Florence Randolph Barcus. Her father died before she was born. She grew up in the Ohio River Valley, moving to Manchester in 1929. After graduating from Barberton High School at the age of 16, she went on to the Actual Business College and graduated in 1935 with a major in accounting. In August, 1942, she married Lawrence L. Bowman, a teacher in the Barberton Schools, who had been her biology teacher in high school. They had three children. Virginia felt that one of her greatest accomplishments was the two-week summer road trips her family took starting in 1956, visiting 48 states over seven years.
In 1935 Virginia went to work for the Akron Board of Education. As a second job in 1938, Virginia started working as the secretary at Akron Night High School. She enjoyed it so much she stayed until 1967, even though it was a second job. In 1954 she was named Manager of Ohio Parking, becoming one of only a handful of women managing parking facilities in the U.S. The parking facility was used by the Shrine Circus to board the elephants and horses when performing at the old Armory. Virginia got along so well with the circus crew they arranged for her to ride an elephant, a life highlight! Virginia continued her career as Controller of Rempel Manufacturing, Secretary-Treasurer and Controller at Hale and Kullgren, Engineers, Chief Executive Officer of FC Machine, and Controller at Portage Broom & Brush. In 1993 she took the job of Assistant Controller of Green Hills Management, begrudgingly retiring in 2001 at the age of 84.
Virginia served on numerous boards including the Ohio Ballet, Junior Achievement, Private Industry Council and the Women's Board of Arc. She was a member of Quota Club of Akron for 30 years. In 1989 she was elected the first woman Chairperson of the Better Business Bureau Board of Akron. She belonged to both the Akron City Club and Cascade Club.
Virginia was preceded in death by her mother in 1979 and by her husband, Larry, in 1984. She is survived by her three children, Florence Riazian husband Isa, Dwight Bowman wife Linda Chavez, and Patricia Hiss husband Karl; her grandchildren, Anastasia Bowman, Maryam Riazian, Vanessa Bowman, Madeline Bowman, and Karl Hiss Jr.; her close friend, Ruth Johnson and Brenda Mishler, daughter by friendship.
The family wishes to thank the Visiting Nurse Hospice, Renata and all the nurses and employees who cared so much, as well as the aides from Hanson Services, especially Kathryn and Olga, who came early and stayed late when needed.
Friends may call from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 85 N. Miller Rd, Akron. A graveside service will be held at Greenlawn Memorial Park at 10 a.m. Monday. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Visiting Nurse, 3358 Ridgewood Rd., Akron, OH 44333, or ARC of Summit & Portage Counties, Suite 109, 3869 Darrow Rd, Stow, OH 44224.
Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel
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