Ronald Thomas Bow – Nov 14, 1922 – April 29, 2017
Ronald Thomas Bow
November 14, 1922 – April 29, 2017. Ronald Thomas Bow, a member of the Greatest Generation, passed away at the age of 94, on April 29, 2017 at Woodland Memorial Hospital. He was surrounded by his loving family, and he will be dearly missed.
Ronald was born in Brooklyn, NY to Thomas Bow and Ebon Lybeck Bow, the first of two sons, and grew up in Congers, New York, graduating from Congers High School. After high school graduation, he attended the U. S. Coast Guard Academy, leaving when he enlisted in the U. S. Army in 1943. He was selected to train to became a Navigator in the Army Air Corps. During Navigation School training in Monroe, LA he met and married Corine Baldwin in 1944. Together they had three daughters, Janet, Dorothy, and Margaret, who passed away in 2015.
During WWII he served in the 424th Bomb Squadron, 307th Bomb Group, 13th Air Force in the Southwest Pacific Arena. While stationed on Morotai Island, he flew on B-24 bombers, flying 44 bombing missions from 1944 to 1945, and was awarded the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Asiatic Pacific Theater Campaign Ribbon, and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon. He was honorably discharged at the end of World War II as a 1st Lieutenant. Upon returning safely from the War, Ronald attended New York State Agricultural & Technical Institute (Now State University of New York) at Canton, NY, to study the construction and plumbing trades. During this time, he built a home for his growing family in Pearl River, New York, with the help of his father and brother.
Looking for a warmer climate, Ronald moved the family to California and settled in Woodland in 1962, where he resided until his death. Ronald began a career at UC Davis, in the Physical Plant, where he worked for over 25 years, until his retirement. Upon retirement, he followed a lifelong dream and traveled through England, Ireland and Europe, often travelling by bicycle and staying in hostels. He regaled his family with frequent post cards from distant lands, and became a hero to his grandchildren all over again. He was a lifelong voracious reader, a collector of obscure and valuable historical items, an explorer of the gold mining regions in the Sierra, and an avid gardener, known for his delicious tomatoes. He was a firm opponent of the Vietnam War and the Iraq War. Having lost many friends in WW II, he valued humanity, and had no more use for warfare.
Later in life, Ronald cared generously for his extended family, and was a loving grandparent to his grandchildren and great grandchildren, who visited frequently. He always had a keen sense of humor, and a little biting sarcasm at times, but he was a kind man at heart. He remained engaged in current events, and loved keeping up with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He did his own housework, cooking, and gardening, read the paper every day, and drove himself on daily errands into his 90’s. Fiercely independent, Ronald lived at home until his passing.
He is survived by daughter Janet Vining Mitchell and her husband Richard Mitchell, of Santa Barbara, CA, daughter Dorothy Bow, of Woodland, CA, grandchildren Michael Vining, David Vining, Jennifer Bow Marcy, and Brian Roy, and great-grandchildren, Mills Vining, James Mitchell Vining, Scarlett Estelle Vining, Stella Grenke Vining, Harper Grenke Vining, Lilly Marcy, Holley Marcy, and Robert Marcy. He was predeceased by his former wife, Corine, his youngest daughter Margaret Eaton, of Davis, and his younger brother William. He will be deeply missed by his family.
A graveside celebration of life, with military honors, will be held at a future date, as Ronald wasn’t big on funerals.
We love you Dad.
