Daniel Bowling

Daniel Bowling passed away peacefully on May 17, 2012, at his home in Blackwell. Funeral Services are scheduled for 2:00 PM Monday, May 21, 2012, at First Baptist Church in Pond Creek with Rev. Les Washnock and Dr. Larry McSwain officiating. Burial will follow the service at Pond Creek Cemetery, under the direction of Anderson-Burris Funeral Home, Enid. Visitation with family will be 4:00 – 8:00 PM Sunday, May 20, 2012, at the Bowling residence in Blackwell. Daniel Bowling was born May 16, 1913 in Kremlin to Levi and Flora (McSwain) Bowling, who had migrated separately from Kentucky and met in Oklahoma. Daniel was the second of seven children and grew up in the Jefferson/Grant County area. He graduated from Jefferson High School in 1931. Dan lived, farmed, and raised Hereford cattle with a passion, the majority of his working years in the Jefferson/Pond Creek communities. He will be forever remembered as the “commander-in-chief” of his operation with a strong work ethic. Dan was especially proud of the people originating from Jefferson, and the agricultural and historical significance that Jefferson contributed to the State of Oklahoma. The Jefferson community continues to have an annual school reunion thanks to the sponsorship of Dan. Dan was baptized at an early age in the Pond Creek Baptist Church. He was honorably discharged from the 1088th Basic Flying Training Squadron, Army Air Force in Independence, Kansas, on July 6, 1943. Dan was self-employed all his life following his farming apprenticeship with his father Levi and his service to his country. Dan was one of the early members of Oklahoma Flying Farmers and owned a Cessna 170 in his younger days. He held life memberships in the American Legion Post # 0199 with 50 years of continuous membership, the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in OKC, and the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association Member #246. In 2004, Dan Bowling and Bowling Herefords were recognized by the American Hereford Association for being in the Hereford cattle business for over 80 years. In 2007, Dan was inducted into the Oklahoma Hereford Association Hall of Fame. Survivors include Dan’s wife Nancy Kraus Bowling, of the home in Blackwell. Additional survivors include Carla Kay Bowling Johnson of Blackwell; Sue Eggers Poor of Anthony, Kansas; Deborah Bowling Hetrick of OKC; Pam Bowling Goochey of OKC; Danny Bowling of Tonkawa; Donnie Bowling of North Carolina; Henry Eggers of Yates Center, Kansas; and Roger Eggers of Ozawkie, Kansas. Dan was preceded in death by his first wife Eloise Young Dodson Bowling (1911-1973), and his parents Levi Bowling (1887-1953) and Flora McSwain Bowling (1891-1983). Siblings predeceasing Dan include Noble Bowling (1911-1941), Glen Bowling (1914-1923), Edna Bowling Gartner (1916-2001), Katie Mae Bowling Eggers (1918-1973), Carl Bowling (1920-1986), and Calvin Bowling (1925-1983). Memorials may be given to the charity of donor’s choice, Pond Creek First Baptist Church, Pond Creek Cemetery Association, Pond Creek Fire and Ambulance Fund, or Ponca City North Central Hospice.

Daniel Bowling

May 16, 1913 - May 17, 2012