Individual Details

Russell De Vere BOWLBY (13) was born 1 Feb 1892 in Sidney OH. He died in 2 Feb 1973; buried Hillside Cemetery, St. Clair MI.**** He married Lois Belle BERNHARDT.

>From Ruth BOWLBY CARLETON (excerpts from autobiography):
My father, Russell De Vere BOWLBY, was born in Sidney, Ohio. His mother was Charlotte (LOMBARD) + his father Roland De Vere BOWLBY. He lived his childhood yrs in Findlay... My dad played the flute. He had an older sister Neta + a younger one Doris. Left high school before graduating to work on the oil + gas wells with his father. During WWI he was in the Army + was in France when the Armistice was signed. On his return he + mother spoke their wedding vows. She had given up her teaching career during the war + was working in a dept store in Toledo, where Uncle Del was living at the time. The wedding took place at Aunt Jessie's who lived in Saline, Mich.

The 4th of July was always a fun time when I was a child. Fireworks were legal for anyone to buy in those days, + there were always accidents, but my parents followed all the safety rules + were very careful in what we 3 were allowed to do. We had sparklers + "snakes" + some of the smaller explosives like the tiny firecrackers to set off ourselves during the day. In the evening we were kept on the porch, sitting in the swing or on the steps or railing, while dad put on our pyro technical display. I remember pin wheels attached to the maple trees + rockets that lit up the sky, + I suppose other families were doing the same thing. There was always a parade down Main St during the day, with my dad marching with other WWI veterans who belonged to the American Legion. [end excerpts]

He quit school after eighth grade against his father's wishes to work as an oil driller; his father withheld his pay until he was of legal age. After WWI, he worked as a pipe fitter for Diamond Crystal Salt Co. in St. Clair.**

Enlisted in Army at Findlay OH 4 Oct 1917; assigned 158 Depot Brigade to 12 Nov 1917; Co B 336 Machine Gun Battalion to 14 Oct 1918; 20th Co 1st Provisional Regiment to Discharge Private, 1st class 9 Mar 1918; American Expeditionary Forces 24 Aug 1918 to 21 Feb 1919; Honorable discharge 7 Mar 1919.***


** Robert R. BOWLBY
***Ohio Military Men 1917-18. Vol 2

Birth	1 FEB 1892 or 1 FEB 1895	Sidney, Shelby Co., OH
Marriage	18 NOV 1919	Saline, Washtenaw Co., MI - Minnie Belle "Lois" BERNHARDT
Death	2 FEB 1973	St. Clair, St. Clair Co., MI
Burial		Hillside Cem., St. Clair, St. Clair Co., MI

Spouse	Minnie Belle "Lois" BERNHARDT (1891 - 1969)
Child	Ruth Evelyn BOWLBY (1920 - 1992)
Child	Robert Roland BOWLBY (1923 - 2008)
Child	Lois Margaret BOWLBY (1925 - 2016)

Father	Roland/Rolland DeVere BOWLBY (1867 - 1948)
Mother	Charlotte Blanch LOMBARD (1873 - 1970)
Sibling	Nita/Neta Blanch BOWLBY (1895 - 1926)
Sibling	Doris May BOWLBY (1898 - 1983)