Roll Call Tribute

Published in Dallas Morning News on Aug. 9, 2016

William Bowie(1921 - 2016)
BOWIE, William H. Age 95, was born July 20, 1921, in Brenham, Texas to Elizabeth Louise Wallace Bowie and Loren Howard Bowie. He died peacefully on August 7, 2016, in Dallas, Texas. Bill loved his summers in Brenham as a young boy where he spent his time swimming in the creek and fishing. A lifelong Dallas resident, Bill graduated from North Dallas High School, and went on to receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering from Texas A&M University, class of '43. Bill proudly defended the country he loved in WWII as a Captain in the 411th Anti-aircraft Artillery Gun Battalion. He participated in the Normandy invasion, landing on Utah Beach, the relief of Bastogne, the liberation of Munich, and the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp. He was most proud of the fact that no one under his command was injured or killed due to avoidable accidents during the war. It was in the army that Bill had his first exposure to a new device used to quickly make calculations to help aim the anti-aircraft guns a computer. This began a love of technology that continued all of his life. Always a student, he attended the University of Wales at Monmouth-shire to study metallurgy before returning to the US after the war. On his return, he completed a Master of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Texas. He was first employed by Pinetta Oil Company and Magnolia Oil Company (now Mobile). He then went on to become Chief Petroleum Engineer of the Hunt Oil Company. After ten years at Hunt, he went into business for himself in the fields of oil and gas development and real estate ventures. Bill loved playing tennis and played every day for 25 years. Bill and his wife Betty enjoyed many years of golf and tennis at Indian Wells, California and belonged to Eldorado and Desert Horizons Country Clubs. Bill was a member and past president of the Dallas Petroleum Club. He was a member of Northwood Country Club, Stonebriar Country Club, and Park Cities Baptist Church. Bill also loved spending time with people. He was happy throwing a large party or simply having someone over to the house for lunch. Countless friends and family will have fond memories of long conversations with him at the table where he loved to tell stories. While Bill had many passions, his first love was his adoring wife of 63 years, Betty Bowie. In all their years of marriage, Betty and Bill never had a cross word with each other. When Bill was asked what the secret was he simply responded "I just do as I'm told." Bill attributes his longevity to the loving care of Dr. Berge Tasian, Dr. Robert Rinkenberger, Dr. Magda Hennes, and the constant attention of Julia Flores Gonzalez. Bill is predeceased by his parents Elizabeth and Loren, and brothers Loren Charles Bowie and Jack Dorman Bowie. He is survived by wife Betty; niece Doris Bowie Pate and family; niece Cheryle Bowie Shable and husband Ron and family; nephew John Bowie; brother-in-law Bill Christensen; nephew Trey Christensen and wife Nancy and family; niece Laura Godkin and husband Brad and family; sister-in-law Marilyn Wagner and husband Dr. Fred H. Wagner; nephews Dr. Greg Wagner and wife CeCe, and Jeffrey Wagner. A memorial service to celebrate Bill's life will be held on Thursday, August 11th, 2016 at 2:00 PM in Ellis Chapel at Park Cities Baptist Church.





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