Graveside Service:  2pm, Monday, Sept. 26, 2011

Cemetery:  Bowling Family Cemetery

Obituary:

Pat Roy Bowling was born on October 25, 1911 the son of John Perry and Viola Priscilla (Keys) Bowling. He departed this life on September 23, 2011 at his home near Elk Creek surrounded by family, at the age of 99 years, 10 months and 29 days.

Pat was born in a Soddy dugout near Blanchard, Oklahoma and grew up in Oklahoma and Texas. His family's first move to Texas when he was a child was in a covered wagon.

Pat accepted Jesus Christ as his savior at a young age and was baptized into the Methodist Church. He attended the Elk Creek Baptist Church for years after moving to Missouri.

He worked many different jobs in his youth, from breaking horses to playing the fiddle, guitar and singing for barn dances. During the Depression Days, Pat hopped freight trains to travel the country looking for work. Pat and his brother supported their mother, 3 sisters and a niece following their father's death. He and his family moved to Glendale, AZ in 1938 where he was employed as a foreman on a cotton farm and then as an Aircraft Mechanic until he was inducted into the Army Air Corps on September 23, 1942.

On October 3, 1942, Pat married the love of his life, Florence Loretta Ayres, in Siloam, Arizona before reporting for active military duty on October 8, 1942. He served his country honorably as Crew Chief, Flight Line Engineer and B-17 Navigator in the South Pacific Theatre during World War II for over 3 years; and served in the Reserves for 2 years.

Upon discharge from active duty, Pat and Florence moved to Orville, Washington, with their infant son. Pat was employed on an apple farm for some time, they then settled in Phoenix, AZ, where the remainder of their children were born. Pat worked for the Civil Service for several years before moving to Missouri in 1957, where he worked for McDonald-Douglas in St. Louis as an Aircraft Mechanic. During periods of layoff, he worked at Ayres Food Center in Cabool. He retired to the family farm near Elk Creek in 1972.

Pat loved the outdoors and enjoyed hunting and fishing. He always had horses until the later years of his life. He enjoyed music and played the fiddle and guitar by ear. Many nights he entertained his family with music. He was an avid reader and loved to travel. Pat and Florence took their children on car trips to most of the Continental United States, traveling Old 66 several times. He was a member of the Cabool VFW for many years and served a term as Post Commander.

Pat was preceded in death by his parents; one brother; 5 sisters; his eldest son, Bobby Wayne Bowling and one granddaughter. He is survived by his wife, Florence of the home; 3 children, David Bowling and wife, Linda of Cabool, Jerry Bowling and wife, Marge of Cabool and Anita Hudgens and husband, Ivan of Laquey; 2 sisters, Clemie McGarr of Duncan, OK and Mary Ayres of Springfield; 12 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren, 5 great-great grandchildren and a large number of cousins, nieces and nephews.