William Bowie; Retired Fire Warden, Volunteer

William Bowie, an Ojai resident for 70 years and a volunteer for numerous community service groups in the area, died Saturday after a brief illness. He was 94.

Bowie was born Aug. 22, 1902, in Edinburgh, Scotland, and came to the United States at age 12. His family settled in Fillmore.

In 1925, Bowie began working for the U.S. Forest Service, and four years later, when the Ventura County Fire District was formed, he became fire warden for the Ojai Valley area.

Bowie gave up the fire warden post in 1944 when he began working as a field manager for the Ojai Orange Assn., a job he held for nearly 30 years.

Active in the community even before his retirement in 1972, Bowie worked with the Boy Scouts of America for more than 60 years. He was a member of the Boy Scouts’ Order of the Arrow and earned the Silver Beaver Award for his service.

For his outstanding service to members of the community both young and old, Bowie was made an honorary member of the Ojai Lions Club and received an honorary lifetime membership in the PTA.

In 1980, Bowie was made grand marshal of Ojai’s Independence Day parade in recognition of his years of work helping others. He also served as the archivist for the Ojai Valley Museum and was presented the 1996 Preservation Award by the Ojai Historic Preservation Commission.

Bowie is survived by his wife of 62 years, Hattie; daughter, Mina Werber of Ojai; son, William Bowie Jr. of Ventura; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Bowie is also survived by three sisters: Susan Mushaney of Ojai, Jean Riley of Santa Paula and Isobel Mushaney of Oildale. He was preceded in death by his brother, John Bowie of Camarillo.

Visitation will be Friday from 1 to 8 p.m. at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ventura.

Private interment will follow at Nordhoff Cemetery in Ojai.

Contributions in Bowie’s memory may be made to the Ojai Valley Museum, HELP of Ojai or a favorite charity.

Arrangements are under the direction of Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.