Franci Bowles, 89

Franci L. “Frank” Bowles, 89, of Marine died Friday, July 17, 2015 at Staunton.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, July 20 and from 9 to 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 21 at Spengel-Boulanger Funeral Home in Marine. A funeral service will be at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 21 at Spengel-Boulanger Funeral Home in Marine, with the Rev. Roy D. Anderson officiating. Burial will be in Salem Cemetery in Alhambra.

He was born on Oct. 18, 1925 in Livingston to Levi and Lena (Ostwirt) Bowles. On March 26, 1946, he married Dorothy Laverne Slemmer. She passed away on Oct. 25, 2006.

After his education, Mr. Bowles joined the U.S. Marine Corps during was one of the men who “hit the beach” at Iwo Jima during World War II.

After the service, he worked as a coal miner, then as a laborer in construction.

He served with the U.S. Air Force as a reservist for eight years while working at Scott Air Force Base as a supply officer. He then transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard in 1964 in St. Louis. He retired in 1980.

He and enjoyed hunting, fishing, trapping, gardening, and he and his wife enjoyed dancing.

He was a life member of VFW Post 5694 in Highland and served as chaplain and Becker Redding American Legion Post 702 in Marine.

Survivors include a son, James L. (Judith L.) Bowles of Ozark, Mo.; a daughter, Bonnie J. English of Carbondale; grandchildren, Roni L. (Troy) Robbins of Carbondale and Christine K. (Scott) Stinnett of Fairview Heights; great-grandchildren, Derek T. (Jill) Naylor of Athens, Ga., Ryan T. Robbins of Carbondale, Noah S. Stinnett of Fairview Heights and Tanner Stinnett of Fairview Heights; and his best friend, Marcella Stamer of Staunton.

He was also preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Robert Bowles; and another sibling, who died infancy.

Memorials may be made to the Highland Animal Shelter.

This story was originally published July 20, 2015 at 1:25 PM with the headline "Franci Bowles, 89."