Sandra Bowman Obituary

LIMA - Sandra Lynn Bowman, 89 of Lima, Ohio, passed away peacefully at 12:34 PM on Monday, May 6, 2024, at her daughter's residence in Columbus, Ohio surrounded by family.

Sandra ("Sandi") was born in Allen County, Ohio on January 24, 1935, and was the daughter of the late Russell Eugene and Vera Elizabeth Umbaugh of Lima, Ohio.

Sandi attended Shawnee High School where she graduated in 1953 and later studied Nursing at Lima Memorial Hospital, receiving her diploma from the School of Nursing in 1956.

After a full-time job as a mother raising three children, Sandi later served as the Director of Nursing at the Mary Ann Brown Residential Facility (an Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities) throughout the late seventies, eighties, and nineties.

Sandi was active in community and civic organizations having served as a Board Member for the YWCA and Big Brothers/Big Sisters off and on until 2002.

Sandi also had a bit of an entrepreneurial spirit as well having started and running a gift shop - "The Octagon" - with long-time friend Lois Armstrong, wife of husband Tom's business partner, Harry Armstrong.

Sandi attended church at New Creation Evangelical Lutheran Church in Elida, Ohio.

Her hobbies included traveling, reading, gardening, cleaning, and animals (dogs, cats, cardinals, and deer).

Sandi was a loving wife and mother as well as an exceptional friend who will be sadly missed by all who knew her.

Survivors include: her son Tom (Perri) Bowman of Columbia, TN; daughter Robin (Tom) Patteson (née Bowman) of Columbus, OH; sister Liz Umbaugh of Newark, OH along with three grandchildren Brooke Bowman, Thomas "Chupie" Patteson, and Perry Bowman.

Preceded in death by her husband Tom, son Terry, parents, Russell and Vera Umbaugh, her sister Barbara Jean Hoelscher, brother-in-law, James Hoelscher, sister-in-law, Kenyon Pryer, and nephew James Grass.

A memorial service celebrating Sandi's life is to be planned at a future date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the New Creation Evangelical Lutheran Church, 109 W. Main Street Elida, Ohio 45807-1050.