Lyle O. Bowman

Lyle O. Bowman Lyle O. Bowman, 93, of San Rafael, California, died peacefully in April, 2018 at Marin General Hospital. Born in Monument, Oregon to Oliver Bowman and Edna Jefferson, Lyle lived much of his early life in the Portland, Oregon area and received his bachelor's and master's degrees in mechanical engineering from Oregon State University before moving to the Bay Area in 1951 and Terra Linda in 1957. Lyle lived his life with a strong sense of duty, humbleness, fairness and integrity, and he had a profound love of his family and the game of golf. His strong sense of duty led Lyle to enlist in the Navy as soon as he turned 18 in 1942. He made many important contributions to the U.S. during World War II on board the destroyer, USS Dortch in the Pacific, including the Battle of Saipan (near Guam), the Philippines Liberation and assisting with the landing of Marines on Iwo Jima. He received the Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal with eight battle stars and the Philippines Liberation medal with two battle stars. His strong sense of fairness and integrity led to a long and successful career at Chevron where his team members and colleagues lauded him for his smart decisions, honesty and exceptional mentorship. Lyle was passionate about his work at Chevron and with various industry associations, especially the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), for whom he consulted right up until the day he died. Lyle was truly devoted to his family. While Saturdays were golf days, Sundays were always family days, and he was the first to find a new state park or beach for the family picnic. He also thoroughly enjoyed building things for family members including a playhouse for his children and later his grandchildren. Weekends were also spent in the garden, and he took pride in maintaining a well ordered and trim yard for his family, including dogs, to enjoy. Lyle's passion outside of work and family was golf. Perhaps being married to a former LPGA golfer and father to a professional golfer made his 5-handicap seem high, but this former Oregon State Junior Champion could hold his own on the golf course, especially on the greens, and he so loved the game. He could be spotted "on the bag" for his wife or daughter in many major golf championships. As President of the Richmond Golf Club he applied his extraordinary work ethic and focus on improving the golf course to ensure the best playing experience for the members. Lyle is survived by his children, Joanne Bowman and Linda Segre and his grandchildren, Laura and Andrew Segre, and his sister, Kay Kirkbride and her daughters and granddaughters. The family is holding a private service to celebrate Lyle's long and full life.