William Edgar Bowling

William Edgar Bowling, 82 of Midland, Texas was called to his Heavenly Home on January 16, 2024. Ed was born on September 25, 1941 in Dunbar, West Virginia to William G. and Pearl Hartley Bowling. He was a graduate of Dunbar High School and earned a degree in Electrical Engineering from West Virginia University, where he was involved in ROTC, Pi Kappa Alpha, swimming, and cross-country running. After graduating from WVU, Ed began his 31-year career with IBM and wed the love of his life, Katherine Ann Erwin. They began their life together in Huntsville, Alabama where Ed helped design the computer for the Saturn rocket that launched men to the moon. There, they also welcomed their daughter, Karen, and made friends that would last a lifetime.

The family and many of their IBM friends would eventually move to Austin, Texas, where they lived for almost 40 years. Ed worked on many projects for IBM including rocket computers, Selectric typewriters, printers, POS systems, and the RISC computer system. Ed and Kathy were active members of Hyde Park Baptist Church and were always very involved with school and youth activities of their daughter, Karen, often hosting teenagers at their home in Austin. Ed retired from IBM early to care for his mother and began a new career of teaching computer classes for Westwood Community School and Austin Community College. Upon retirement, Ed and Kathy enjoyed taking trips with their life-long friends and visiting their three grandchildren in Midland, Texas, eventually moving to Midland to enjoy watching them grow up and attending many a basketball game at Midland Classical Academy. Nothing made Ed smile more than being in the presence of his three grandchildren, who lovingly referred to him as “Grandad”, his very favorite title.

Left to cherish his memory are his daughter, Karen Ann Bowling Sparks, and husband Todd, of Midland, Texas, grandson, Will Sparks of Austin, Texas, granddaughter Laura Kate Sparks of Dallas, Texas and granddaughter Libby Ann Sparks of College Station, Texas, sister-in-law Constance Erwin of Midland, TX, brother-in-law Randy Erwin and wife Terri of Burnside, Kentucky, brother-in-law Lacy Bellomy and wife Suzanne of Winston-Salem, NC and brother-in-law Richard Tribou of Satellite Beach, Florida and many beloved nieces and nephews and great nieces and great nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Pearl Bowling, his wife of 49 years, Kathy, and their infant daughter, Elizabeth, his sisters Dianne Bowling Bellomy and Gloria Bowling Tribou, and his wife Loretta Leslie Bowling.

The family will be receiving guests from 6:00pm to 7:30pm at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home in Midland, Texas on Friday, January 19, 2024. A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, January 20, 2024 at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Chapel with a reception to follow at The Branch. Livestreaming at the time of the service will be available at www.npwelch.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Midland Fair Havens, 2400 Whitmire Blvd #100, Midland, Texas 79705 or a charity of their choice.

The family would like to express their vast gratitude to Martha, Manda, Nancy, and Hilmelda, Ed’s dear friends and caregivers, and to all the kind health care providers from Home Health, and the fantastic staff at Manor Park.

Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home of Crematory of Midland. Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com.

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