Andrew Lawrence Bowlds

Andy Bowlds, 73, a longtime Willits resident died suddenly of natural causes on Monday, September 1, 2010. He is survived by his wife, Nancy, of 53 years, and four children, sons, Rick, who resides in Vickleby, Sweden, Alex and Darin, and daughter, Kelly, all of Willits, eight grandchildren and one great grandson. He is also survived by a brother, Gene Bowlds of Clearlake, and sisters, Julie Ames of Renton, Washington, and Elisabeth Delgado of Shingletown. Andy Bowlds was born June 20, 1937 in Berkeley to parents Larry and Josephine whom preceded him in death along with his youngest brother, Paul. In 1946 the Bowlds family left the Bay Area for Stafford, south of Scotia in Humboldt County. Andy went to grade schools in Scotia and graduated in 1955 from Fortuna High School. The family lost their home in the 1955 flood and moved to Booneville. Andy met Nancy Savage, the love of his life in Philo and they were married October 26, 1957. After starting a family they moved to Willits in 1960 where Andy was employed with Okerstrom Logging Co. for more than 20 years. He was a man known for putting his shoulder to the wheel and was engaged in other businesses, Okerstrom & Bowlds Trucking, Cobo Logging, and Andy Bowlds Logging. After his logging career Andy enjoyed working the past six years as a residential counselor for the Mendocino County Children's Center. In summer 2009 Andy and Nancy traveled to Sweden on a trip hosted by their children for their 50th wedding anniversary. They visited Ulf and Helen Nordin. Ulf spent a year living with the Bowlds family in 1977 as a AFS student at Willits High School. Ulf and the Bowlds family have maintained a loving family relationship for over 30 years. Andy and Nancy returned to Sweden to visit their son, Rick, and the Nordins in January 2010 and took in a short trip to Dublin, Ireland as well. Andy considered it the trip of a lifetime. Bowlds was a family man, always interested and taking part in his kids' activities and stressed education. He was a lifelong learner, always reading stacks of books and often engaged in discussions about the latest news and current events. He died peacefully at home, reading a book. Friends and family are invited to a potluck Celebration of Life in honor of Andy at the family home at 2301 Fort Bragg Rd. on Sunday, September 12 at 2 pm.