James Ronald Bowman

Major General (Retired) and Judge J. Ronald Bowman Major General (Retired) and Judge J. Ronald Bowman passed away on Friday, April 21, 2017 at Hospice of Northwest Ohio, Toledo. He was a soldier, a Judge, a lawyer, a combat veteran, a loving husband, father, grandfather, a community volunteer and servant and sportsman. He was born in Bucyrus, OH on July 2, 1930, the son of Lawrence F. and Mary Margaret (Gistle) Bowman. He served his nation and state in 42 years of military service, enlisting at 18 years of age and retiring at age 60, including combat service in an infantry rifle company in Korea, for which he was decorated five times, including the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, three Army Commendation Medals with Metal Pendants and three battle stars and the Combat Infantry’s Badge. General Bowman is one of very few individuals who have been selected for and has lead or commanded every type of US Army unit from Sergeant to Major General- a squad, a section, a platoon, a company, a battalion, a group, a brigade and a troop command. He also had the distinction of having served in every single US Army rank category-he has served as an ROTC Cadet, a Private, an NCO, a Warrant Officer, a company Grade Officer, a Field Grade Officer and as a General Officer of-the-line. Judge Bowman was a resident of Lucas County and the City of Toledo for over 70 years where he has been a licensed attorney for the last 55 years. He served as a Judge of the Lucas County Common Pleas Court and prior to that he was first elected Judge of the Housing Court of the Toledo Municipal Court. He was the past President of the Toledo Bar Association, past President of the Toledo Junior Bar Association, past President of the Toledo Law Association (County Law Library), Fellow of the Ohio State Bar Association Foundation and of the Toledo Bar Association Foundation. He was also the first President of the Lucas County Democratic Lawyers Bar Association. He was a founder and senior partner in the former Toledo law firm Bowman, Abel, Raitz and Cox and was an owner/developer of the five-story Toledo Legal Building on the Downtown Courthouse Square. He was preceded in death by his wife, Joan and sister, Barbara Ann Goggans. He is survived by three loving and wonderful children, Cynthia B. (Sonny) Oyler of Louisville, KY, James R. “Jamie” Bowman Jr. and Brenda D. (Ed) Ridl of Dunwoody, GA; and brother, Thomas L. (Eleanor) Bowman. He also was blessed by 4 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Friends may visit at the Coyle Funeral Home, 1770 S. Reynolds Rd., on Monday, April 24th from 5-8 p.m. and Tuesday, April 25th from 2-8 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, April 26th at 1:00 pm.in the mortuary. Interment Toledo Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Northwest Ohio, the University of Toledo College of Law or the donor’s choice. Please view and sign our online “guest registry” at CoyleFuneralHome.com