Wilma Mae (Ditto) Bowman, daughter of Allen and Katharina (Dutler) Ditto, was born on February 18, 1917, at her parents’ farm in Guthrie County, Iowa. She passed away on September 14, 2024, at the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa, at the age of 107.
Wilma was baptized and confirmed at the Lone Star Church in Guthrie County. She attended Rural School Union #4 through 8th grade. After her mother’s death, Wilma helped care for her three younger brothers.
On December 25, 1935, she married Clarence Freetly. To this union, one son, Wayne, was born. On July 31, 1941, Wilma married Ralph Bowman at the Presbyterian Church in Maryville, Missouri. They were married for 76 years. Together, they were blessed with two children, Camilla and Vaughn.
Warren and Wilma began farming in Audubon County and Guthrie County before moving to Gray, Iowa, for 12 years. They grew row crops and raised livestock. Wilma helped milk cows and cared for many chickens. She always had a large garden and canned many fruits and vegetables. She was a great baker and never used a recipe. She learned to bake at an early age and was still at the age of 106. She enjoyed baking bread, pies, and rolls. She served many big family meals. Wilma transferred from the Lone Star Church to the Gray Methodist church. In 1957 Wilma and Warren moved to Audubon. Wilma transferred to the First Presbyterian Church, where she served as a Deacon and joined the Dorcas Circle. She helped make noodles for the circle supper and always participated in the soup supper. Wilma also worked and furnished at funerals.
Wilma belonged to the Rebekha Lodge for over 20 years. She had worked at the Priebe Hatchery in Manning and the Audubon Canning Factory and sorted corn for Garst & Thomas Hybrid Seed Co. She cooked at Spooks Drive-In, the Audubon County Farm, after working at the Friendship Home in Audubon for 25 years. Wima and Warren enjoyed bus tours with friends. She also enjoyed making crafts, sewing, and doing word searches.
Wilma is preceded in death by her husband, Warren; parents, Allen and Katharina Ditto; son, Vaughn Bowman; her sisters, Hazel Ditto, and Gladys (Vivian) Cretsinger; brothers, Wilbur “Bill” Ditto, Glen (Lorraine) Ditto, Floyd (Doris) Ditto; niece Velma (Robert) Hagman; nephew, Norman (Janet) Cretsinger; sisters-in-law, Helen (Earl) McGuire, Fern (Gerald) Raymond, Caroline (Clair) Olsen, Ruth (Ivan) Herron; brother-in-law Allen Bowman.
Survivors include her daughter Camilla (Howard) Lawshe of Audubon, her grandson Todd Lawshe of Audubon, and her son Wayne (Phyllis) Freetly and his family of Ankeny, IA.
A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, September 20, 2024, at First Presbyterian Church in Audubon, IA, with Pastor Sheryl Puderbaugh officiating. Following the service, interment will take place at Maple Grove Cemetery. A luncheon will be held following the committal in the Fellowship Hall of the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon. Casket bearers for Wilma will be Todd Lawshe, Howard Lawshe, Jerry Hagan, Elden Ditto, Doug Raymond, and Chris Vernon.
A visitation will be held one hour before the funeral also on Friday at the church.
Memorials may be directed to the Wilma Bowman Family and designated to many of her favorite organizations in her memory. They may be mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 201, Audubon, IA 50025.
Funeral arrangements are handled with the Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Audubon, IA.
