Gladys I. Bowman

Gladys I. Bowman, 87, of Willimantic, died Monday Feb. 23, 2004 at the Windham Hospital. She was born Sept. 11, 1916 in Willimantic the daughter of William H. and Rose (Blanchette) Bowman. Gladys was a member of the first four year class at the Willimantic State Teachers College to receive Bachelor in Education Degrees and completed graduate work at UConn and Yale University. She taught at North Stonington. Coventry, Andover and Columbia for a total of 31 years, retiring in 1970. In Columbia, she was the first kindergarten teacher at the Horace W. Porter School. Gladys was avidly interested in Windham/Willimantic history and politics, a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church of Willimantic, longtime member of the CRTA (CT. Retired Teachers Assoc.), member of the Windham Historical Society and the Windham Textile & History Museum. Her other interests included; pets (cats), interior decoration, crossword puzzle solving and antiques. She was predeceased by her sister Ethel Bowman Hasbrouck and a brother Edward R. Bowman. She is survived by her son and daughter in law, E. Theodore Leslie II and Anita Helmen Leslie and a granddaughter Lauren Elane Leslie all of Evansville, IN., and twin nephews; E.R. Bowman Jr. of Pacific Palisades, CA. and William L. Bowman of San Diego, CA. Her family will receive friends at the Potter Funeral Home 456 Jackson St. (Rte. 195) Willimantic on Thursday from 10:00 to 11:00am with a service at 11:00am. The Rev. Dr. Fred Shapiro will officiate. Burial will follow in the Old Willimantic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, her family suggests memorial donations to Northeastern Connecticut Animal Rescue (NECTAR), P.O. Box 362, Storrs, Ct. 06268.