A Tribute

My mother asked my husband, Don to provide the eulogy at my dad's funeral. Three nights before dad passed, he and Don spent the evening deep in conversation. Don then came home and wrote this beautiful tribute to my dad based on the words and time they shared.

As a last tribute to my dear father, I'd like to share these beautiful words that Don wrote and shared at the funeral. My mother, my siblings, my aunts, uncles and cousins were very moved by the words that he spoke.

Thank you again for the many kinds comments you have left on both my and Sebrina's blog.

"Today we celebrate the life of George Bowman. He was born 88 years ago on March 31, 1920 in what was formerly called Port Arthur Ontario. Today we know it as Thunder Bay. George Bowman was one of 11 children. He is father to six children – Gina, Jim, Fran, Barb, Scott and Vicki, grandfather to 14 and great grandfather to 18. Most importantly, the husband of Shirley Bowman, his wife of 59 years.

Dad had 2 very different careers. The first as a sales manager for Investors Group, and the second as the founder of Operation Balance, which was the driving force in his life.

As a young man Dad was a bit of a rebel, unfocused and as he told me, ran on the wild side – if you can imagine that. One day he found he had the desire to go to Church – a desire he never had before. He attended a church service, listened to a man speak and something came over him. Little did he know that this would change his life forever. That night he became a born again Christian. The man that spoke that evening became not only one of his very dear friends but also his father in law. Mr. George Coghill.

Dad had three goals in life:

1) To learn about religion
2) To become a writer ( a lofty goal for someone with only 8 years of formal education)
3) To run a mission and do work that advanced the sound doctrines of grace which hold biblical truth in balance.

To learn about religion, he started attending church services and bible study classes.

To become a writer he began by writing a piece of poetry and sent it off to an American University to see if he could gain acceptance in a writing course. A letter came back from a professor granting acceptance and saying “he expected to read great pieces of work from him”. Throughout his life Dad estimated that he had written over 18 million words in over 250 books, as well as a monthly newsletter from his missionary organization “Operation Balance”. He started his writing using a typewriter, graduating to personal computers as the technology became available – this from a man with a grade 8 education. Recently Dad was reading one of his books and commented to my wife Barb, that he did not have any recollection of writing the book and that he thought it was quite good. I thought about this comment and the many times we would visit. Dad would pop out of his office, chat for awhile and then excuse himself and return to his writing. This was a man truly driven and devoted to his work, and, I believe guided by the Lord. Dad would spend a great deal of his waking hours writing at his computer and rarely missed a day.

In 1991 Dad founded Operation Balance. In his words Operation Balance is a personal, non-profit writing ministry which advances sound doctrine that holds Biblical truth in balance. He once told me that too many ministers today ask what you want to hear and then preach about it. He felt this was wrong. Ministers should teach what is in the Bible and not cater to the congregation. This caused great controversy. Some agreed and others were in complete disagreement.

By the grace of God, Dad’s written word has spread and today his books are read throughout the world. There is a world map in their apartment with little pins all over it which represent the countries that Dad’s books have been sent to. You would be amazed! Cities in Canada, United States, United Kingdom, Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Africa, South America, India, Australia, and many others. The cost to send these books is quite significant. But if you could not afford the cost, Operation Balance sent them out free of charge. Dad has spent thousands of dollars of his own money to spread the word of the Lord and his beliefs. He felt that strongly about his work.

Because of his strong belief in the Lord, Dad was not afraid to die. He knew he was going to a better place, to be free of his pains and illnesses. He told us he was only sad because he saw how upset we were.

Throughout his illness, I have had the opportunity to spend quite a bit of time with Dad talking about the things he holds dear. He recently told me one story about reading a memoir by United States Senator Robert Dole called “One Soldiers Story”. He was so impressed with this book that he wrote a letter to Senator Dole at the United States Congress – that’s how he addressed it! Along with his letter he enclosed a book he had written called “Pain, Problems and Persecution “. A few weeks later he received a letter written on United States Congressional stationary. Senator Dole thanked Dad for his kind letter, telling him how much he enjoyed his book and requested Dad to send a copy of that book to a relative of his that was dying from cancer, as he felt he too would benefit greatly from Dad’s book. He enclosed a cheque for $250.00 towards Dad’s ministry and asked dad to send him the bill for the book as well.

Mom, the decision that Dad made to remain at home instead of going to the hospital was his decision – no one else’s. It was a very hard one to accept as we all knew what the consequences would be. I saw the love and tender care you provided Dad as well as the first rate nursing care. He could not have been in a better place - you tended to his every need. This was something that he would not have received in a hospital. I fear that he would have passed away a lonely and broken hearted man had he been admitted. You provided him the opportunity to spend his last days at home - surrounded by love – as you’ve always done throughout your 59 years of marriage.
God bless you both."

I would like to add that after the funeral when we were back home pondering the words of not only Don but another dear old friend of dad's who spoke, we were struck with the thought to "google" my dad's name. We were shocked to find over 1000 hits with many sites selling dad's books, two of which were Chapters Indigo and Amazon.

My father was a very modest man and never looked for praise or recognition for his work. He would be amazed to know just how far his words have spread as were we.