Melvin "Bud" & Diane Bowles

Bud and Diane Bowles

Bud and Diane Bowles of Rushville, NE shared an amazing love; being the best of friends, they were virtually never parted for the more than 40 years they were together.  As each of them experienced a decline in health, they often expressed a desire to move on from this world together.  This wish has been granted; with great sadness their family shares that Diane passed away on Sunday, May 28, 2023, and Bud passed away on Tuesday, May 30, 2023.

Melvin (Bud) J. Bowles, son of Roy Melvin and Mary Louisa Bowles, was born on November 1, 1934, in Vian, Oklahoma.  Raised in Sallisaw, he grew up near the Arkansas River resulting in Bud’s love of hunting, fishing, and camping; he was always most at home in the outdoors.

Diane Elaine Bowles, only daughter of George (Jim) Milroy and Mona Cecile Comer, was born February 22, 1943, in Superior, Wisconsin.  Diane’s family moved to Rapid City, SD when she was a young child; growing up surrounded by the beauty of western South Dakota created within her a lifelong love of the outdoors.

Bud and Diane were each married and raised a family before circumstances brought them together as an inseparable couple with a romance that lasted through the decades.  Given their mutual love of the outdoors they created many, many happy camping, fishing, and hunting memories with their children and friends.   As reminiscences are shared, the majority are sure to contain stores of these adventures.

The Bowles also shared a love of football, but that did not extend to the teams they supported.  Bud was an avid Oklahoma Sooners fan while Diane was a dedicated Nebraska Corn Husker; every Saturday during football season saw OU and NU flags on either side of their porch with the sound of cheerful banter coming from within as they each cheered their favorite team to victory.

Bud and Diane were also avid bowlers, they played in leagues for many years and were often joined by their children to participate in tournaments.  It is here that many of their lifelong friendships were made.

Greater than their love of the outdoors, football and bowling, perhaps even rivaling their love of family, was their mutual love of dogs.  Bud and Diane always had at least two dogs which traveled with them to visit family or joined them on their many adventures.  You had to be ok with dog hair and giving out pets when you visited them.

Bud was a hard-working man who never fully retired; he had a reputation for honesty and integrity in all his dealings.  As Diane began to experience health challenges, taking care of all her needs became his highest priority. Loved by many for his generosity and sense of humor, his loss will be felt not just by family and friends, but also by the entire community of Rushville.

Diane shared Bud’s sense of humor which was complimented with a deep love for family and friends that drove her to be that friend you could turn to in times of need.  As health issues forced her to be spend more and more time at home, she began playing online games where she made true and lasting friendships with women from around the world.  She also used this medium to stay close with family near and far allowing her to participate in events even when she couldn’t physically be there.

Bud and Diane will be deeply missed by Diane’s brothers Doug, Andy, and Roger Comer; their children Vonnie Donnely, Ken (Sissy) Burrows, Gerry (Ronnie) Burrows, Barb (Rich) Genaro; David (LaDonna) Bowles, Dina Kearns and (honorary) Missy Retzlaff; 16 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren; and special friends Robin, Tracy, and Rose.  The Bowles’ are preceded in death by their parents Roy and Mary Bowles and George and Mona Comer; Bud’s siblings Cecil, Raymond, Ruth, Fred, Ruby, Richard, O’Dell, Junior, Howard, and Bobby; sons Steve Fletcher and Donny Bowles; sons-in-law Wayne Summers and Bill Donnelly, grandson Jason Burrows; and special friends Dan, Gail, Van, Denny and Cush.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, June 15^th at 2:00 pm at the Senior Citizens Center, 210 S. Main Street, Rushville, Nebraska, followed by grave side services at Fairview Cemetery, Rushville, NE.  A luncheon will be held following the services at the Senior Citizens Center, all are welcome to attend. 

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