Growing up on Long Island, New York, Bill developed a love of family, science, sports, music and humor that endured through his entire life and enriched all who knew him. He studied physics at MIT where he rowed crew and excelled in violin, becoming the concertmaster of the MIT orchestra. Then he went on to UC Berkeley to get his Ph.D. in Physics and play rugby for "Cal."

While diving at the UC Pool, he met Betty, his wife of 45 years. They moved to Normandy Park to start a family while he enjoyed a 30-plus-year career in nuclear physics at the Boeing Company. Always active, he continued to play rugby in Seattle as well as soccer, basketball and softball. Bill was a consummate family man known for his "Bowman jokes," music, song and stories. He was involved in all of his kids' sports, including coaching and umpiring Little League Baseball, refereeing soccer, and serving as a meet official and an announcer at Normandy Park Swim Club, Red Shield Marlins and Highline Swim Club. He loved to play football in the street with the neighborhood kids.

Bill lived a dynamic retirement, traveling extensively with Betty, playing on the Des Moines Sounders Co-Ed Senior Softball team, enjoying weekly lunches with his retired Boeing buddies, and always being there for all his grandchildren's sporting events and concerts.

Bill died on October 13, 2007, after a six-month battle with Primary CNS Lymphoma. Bill is preceded in death by his wife, Betty. He is survived by his daughters Kim Smerekanych (Michael) and Brett Bowman, his son William Bowman Jr. (Lisa), his granddaughters Samantha, Kiele, Nicole, Alexandra, Sasha and Eva, and his grandson Tom.

Please join us for a Celebration of Bill's Life on Thursday, October 25, at 12:30 p.m. at the Normandy Park Cove, 1500 S.W. Shorebrook Drive, Normandy Park. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the charity of your choice.