Sergeant Ray Juel Bowman

Son of William Henry and Lottie Baugh Bowman of Wray.

Wray Gazette July 9, 1942

SGT. Ray J. Bowman Killed By Gun Shot at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, July 3

Sgt. Ray J. Bowman, former Wray man, was killed by a gunshot wound Friday, July 3rd, at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. This information was received by relatives in Wray and comes as a great shock. The body is being brought to Wray for funeral services but at this writing arrangements have not been completed.

It is understood that the shot that killed Sgt. Bowman was accidental, but explicit information is lacking. Ray Bowman was about 28 years old. He spent his entire life in or near Wray until he enlisted four years ago. He was in the engineers branch of service.

Sgt. Bowman is survived by his father, W.M. Bowman, and by his brothers Leslie, Lester, Orville, and LeRoy, all of Wray or near Wray except for Orville who was recently inducted into the Army and is now stationed in California.

The above information is all that could be obtained for this week's paper. Complete details of the tragedy along with the obituary notice will be printed next week.

The entire community will learn of Sgt. Bowman's death with sincere regret and will extend heartfelt sympathy to the father, brothers and other relatives.

Wray Gazette July 16, 1942

Services For SGT. Bowman Are Held Saturday

Funeral Services for Sergeant Ray Juel Bowman, former Wray man, who died July 3 at an Army hospital at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, were held at Hitchcock Mortuary in Wray Saturday morning. Rev. Lloyd M. Balfour, pastor of the Wray Christian Church conducted the rites and burial was in Grandview Cemetery.

Sergeant Bowman was a son of Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Bowman and was born at Lynnaus, Missouri on May 23, 1913. He was 29 years, 1 month and 9 days old at the time of his death.

In 1920 he came with his parents to this community and received his schooling here. The family lived on a farm northeast of Wray until 1932 when they moved into Wray.

For six months, during the winter of 1935 and 1936, the deceased was in a C.C.C. camp in Colorado. About November 1, 1938 he enlisted in the United States Army at Fort Logan and later was transferred to Fort Sam Houston, Texas, where he was stationed with a Battalion of Engineers until the time of his death.

Sergeant Bowman's mother, Mrs. Lottie Bowman, preceded him in death. Survivors include the father, W.H. Bowman of Littleton, four brothers, Leslie and Lester of Littleton, Orval of Kanorado, Kansas and Private LeRoy of San Diego, California and his grandmother, Mrs. Susie Baugh of Wray, and many aunts, uncles, cousins and other less near relatives.

Go to previous page | next page.

Return to Gold Star Veterans Listing.