J.H. "Slick" Bowman

July 7, 1936 - December 31, 2020

A funeral service for J.H. “Slick” Bowman, 84, of Rusk, will be 2:00 p.m., Sunday, January 3, 2021 at the Wallace-Thompson Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Don Copeland officiating. Burial will follow at Union Grove Cemetery. He passed away after a long and happy life, December 31, 2020. He was born July 7, 1936 in Denson Springs, to the late George Thomas and Mary Ardell Bowman. He served in the United States Air Force. His hobbies included pranks and practical jokes. He enjoyed watching Inez fish, and riding the roads from house to house visiting kids and grandkids… and staying for just minutes before moving on. He is preceded in death by his parents, 3 brothers, Randal Bowman, Weldon Bowman and Jessie Joplin Bowman, 3 sisters, Mildred Baggett, Zelma Aline Cochran, and Mona Pearson, his 1st wife and mother of his 8 children, Ida Bowman with whom he remained close. He was also preceded by his lovely wife and mother of his 6 step-children Inez Bowman, as well as 1 daughter, Theresa Lanell Franklin and 2 grandsons, Christopher Bowman and Justin O’Dell. He is survived by his sister, Helen Flora of Custer, SD, children, Mary and Thomas McElroy of Rusk, Christine and Kenneth Gardner of Jacksonville, Vanessa and Norman Lewis of Rusk, Zelma and Dwon Anizan of Dialville, Joseph and Kimberly Bowman of Gilmer, Laura Pryor of Rusk, Joel Bowman of Rusk, 13 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, as well as step-children, Larry Sharp of Dogwood City, Sue and Wayne Bynum of Lufkin, Pam and Jayson Isaacs of Rusk, Donnie and Alicia Sharp of Tyler, Ronnie Sharp of Tyler, and John Paul Sharp of Tyler, and 18 step grandchildren as well as many loved nieces and nephews. Pallbearers Joshua McElroy, Adam McElroy, Eric Lewis, Chase Gardner, Joseph Anizan, Kevin Pryor, and Taylor Bowman. Honorary pallbearers are Emily Bracewell, Riley Bowman, Kamryn Bowman, and his step-son and best friend, Donnie Sharp. Visitation will be 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturday, January 2, 2021 at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Harmony Missionary Baptist Church, Rusk.