William Mosley Bowman died Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015, at Merit Health River Region. He was 76.

Mr. Bowman was the third child born to the late David Charles and Mary Brown Bowman July 25, 1939 in Eldorado. He had one brother and three sisters.

He attended Eldorado and Ballground Elementary Schools and graduated from Bowman High School in the class of 1958. He later worked for Boykin Construction and the Vicksburg Public School System.

He attended Alcorn A &M College and graduated from Mississippi Valley State University in 1964 with a bachelor of science degree in industrial education and earned a master of education from Mississippi College in administration and supervision in 1972.  He also studied at Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, Tuskegee Institute, Tuskegee, Alabama and Mississippi State University, and received certification in elementary education.

He was a member of Pleasant Valley M.B. Church, where he served as a deacon and Chairman of the Trustee Board, and married Helen Bell of Vicksburg in 1966.

He taught industrial arts at Harris Junior College in Meridian, and also taught at Booker T. Washington High, Philadelphia, and Jefferson Junior High in Vicksburg, where he served as assistant principal, industrial arts instructor and director of the neighborhood youth corps for the Vicksburg Public Schools.

He was principal of Ken Karyl Elementary in 1970, and from 1976 to 1984 was principal of Vicksburg Middle School and taught adult education at Hinds Junior College Vicksburg-Warren Branch. In 1984 he became assistant supervisor for local administrative services and Chapter 1 coordinator.

He ended his career in education after 40 1/2 in 2004 as director of federal programs.

He was also active in several community organizations.

He was a member of the Elks Fidelity Lodge No. 507, I.B.P.O.E. of W. chairman of education committee P.E.R., Council No 80, I.B.P.O. E. of W., and a former member of Kings Lodge No. 191, VWSE Federal Credit Union president, Mississippi Valley State University Alumni Association, Esquire Club of Vicksburg, Scout Master of Boy Scout Troop 115, and member of the Port City Kiwanis Club. He was a member of the Mississippi Association of Federal Education Program Directors, Phi Delta Kappa and the YMCA Board.

Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Helen B. Bowman of Vicksburg; sisters, Ethel Sanders of Vicksburg, Hazel Lee Bowman and Shirley Bowman Myles, both of Detroit; three nieces; and four nephews.

Services will be noon on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, at Pleasant Valley MB Church, 260 Mississippi 27, with Dr. James Warren officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery under the direction of Lakeview Memorial Funeral Home.

Visitation will be Friday, at the funeral home from 1 to 7pm with the family present from 6 to 7p.m.