Betty Lou Bowman

Betty Lou Bowman, 97, of Tiffin, passed away peacefully Friday, May 6, 2022, surrounded by her son and daughter. Betty was born Feb. 1, 1925, in Tiffin, to Grover and Mildred (Tate) Smith. She married Fred D. Bowman Jr. on Feb. 1, 1947, in Tiffin, and he preceded her in death after 65 years of marriage. Betty is survived by her two children, Fred (Janet) Bowman III of Bowling Green, Kentucky, and Ann (Kevin) Reese of Lima; two grandchildren, Jason (Sarah) Reese of Waynesfield and Alyson (Brandon) Egbert of Findlay; stepgrandson, Adam Witt of Los Angeles, California; two great-grandchildren, Hollyn Reese and Heidi Reese, and baby Egbert due in July; two sisters-in-law, Madelyn Smith of Tiffin and Jean Bowman of Bay Village; and 18 nieces and nephews. Betty was also preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Howard Smith, Art Smith and Gilbert Smith; three sisters, Helena Hiser, Irene Loy and Martha Weber; and niece, Kristi Loy. Betty graduated from Columbian High School, Tiffin, in 1942. She worked as an administrative assistant at Tiffin Glass House. She also worked at Erie County Courthouse, Sandusky, McNeal Tree Services as a bookkeeper, Sacksetter Accounting, and finally finished her working career at H&R Block as a receptionist while occasionally assisting in tax preparation. Betty loved working with numbers and enjoyed her bookkeeping jobs, including her own finances, which she continued up until the very end. She was the last surviving member of 42nd Club, which she enjoyed so very much and missed dearly the lasting friendships made with the girls of the group. She and her husband were members and officers of Crazy 8 Square Dancers, where they met new friends and had fun dancing. She was a member of Seneca Searchers and loved researching her family's genealogy until eyesight did not allow her to continue to do so. When her children were younger, she was active in Lincoln School PTO and Columbian High School Band Association to name a few. Betty was a member of First Christian Church Disciples of Christ since childhood and the oldest member of the church at this time. She taught Sunday School, was a deaconess and helped with many sponsored church dinners and activities. Betty would rarely be seen sitting down, as she always had some "work to do," whether it be inside the house or outside, with her family, or with various organizations, with her flowerbeds being top priority. Betty's funeral will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 11, 2022, at First Christian Church Disciples of Christ, Tiffin. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Cemetery, Tiffin. Visitation for family and friends will be 10-11 a.m. Wednesday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Tiffin First Christian Church Disciples of Christ or Seneca County Genealogical Society Chapter of Ohio. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.shookfamilyfh.com.