William Franklin Bowman

July 26, 1938 – August 2, 2017

Bill Bowman, 79, of Waco, passed peacefully on August 2, 2017 at home with his wife by his side after a long battle with heart disease. Family visitation will be Tuesday, August 8th from 5 to 7pm and services will be Wednesday at 2pm at the Oak Crest Funeral Home, 4520 Bosque Boulevard, Waco. Reverend Johnny McCain and Reverend Chuck Walker will be officiating.

Bill was born July 26, 1938 in Cache, Oklahoma . He knew from age 5 he wanted to be a salesman and a lifelong career in sales took him all over the country where he made friends everywhere he went. He married the love of his life, Micki, in 1970 and together they raised five children.

Bill lived a full life with passion and a great deal of humor. He was a joke and storyteller from the beginning. Made many friends over his life because he was a friend. There were some painful and hard lessons along the way but mostly pure joy for the love and lives of his children, grandchildren and great-grandson, all of his family, friends and life. The music and songs of the Gaither Band brought him an inner peace and healing for many years. It also led him Home.

He was preceded in death by his parents, David and Katherine Bowman and his daughter Elizabeth Ann (Bitsy) Christal.

He is survived by his wife, Micki, his daughters Kym Benson Lifshutz, Bill Bowman, Jr. and wife Vicki, Kari Bowman and wife Kathy Francis, and Michele Hamilton and husband Gil Rumstein, sisters Ann Ogle and Margie and husband, John Vogler. He is also survived by grandchildren: Chris Christal and wife, Sarah, Kelly Schaner and husband, Eric, Sarah Parchem, Brittany Bowman, Jacob Bowman, Abigail Bowman, Hannah Lifshutz, Annabelle Lifshutz, Natania Rumstein, Rachel Rumstein, Katelyn (Kato) Hamilton, Maghen Hamilton and husband, M.J. Salhab and one great grandchild Rami Salhab.

The family would like to extend special thanks to Dr. Charles Shoultz, III of Waco Cardiology, Dr. Jason Zagrodzky of Texas Arrhythmia, and Dr. Sandra Kitson of Scott and White and the kind nurses and doctors at Providence Hospital.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Friends for Life, P O Box 23491, Waco, TX 76702.