of Conway, AR
April 22, 1948 - May 23, 2023
The kindest heart in the world stopped beating May 22, 2023. Roger Bowman of Conway, Arkansas passed away at home with his family by his side. Roger was born April 22, 1948 in Jonesboro, Arkansas. He matriculated at Arkansas State University, earning a BA degree in Art under printmaker, Evan Lindquist. Roger went on to earn a Masters and a Masters of Fine Art at the University of Iowa, where he studied with renowned printmaker, Mauricio Lasansky. After teaching at various universities, he retired as a Professor of Art after 26 years at the University of Central Arkansas.
Roger was a prolific working artist. With masterful craftsmanship, motifs of joyful color combinations appear in his paintings, expressing themselves in synesthetic chords of visual, musical and poetic experiences. Memories of his childhood and life experiences are captured anachronistically in his work. Roger's art can be seen at Pucker Gallery on Newbury Street in Boston, Massachusetts or viewed online at puckergallery.com and at Gallery 26 in Little Rock on Kavanaugh Boulevard.
Roger was preceded in death by his parents, Hugh and Nora Riggs Bowman and his parents-in-law, Gilbert and Inez Morrow Clark.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years and 5 months, Jima Clark Bowman of Conway; daughter and son-in-law, Clark and Joey Hambuchen; granddaughter, Greta Katherine Hambuchen all of Bentonville, Arkansas; sister, Gina Bowman; brother and sister-in-law, Mike and Melany Bowman; nephew, Matt (Hannah) Bowman; niece, Emily Bowman; special Bowman family friend, Phareta Calkin all of Jonesboro, Arkansas; brother-in-law, Jeff (June) Clark of Pocahontas, Arkansas; aunt by marriage and dear friend, Katie Smith; niece, Whitney (J.J.) Blankenship; niece, Mary Ann Clark all of Paragould, Arkansas; niece, Rebecca (Caleb) Henry of Harrisburg, Arkansas and nephew, Greg (Nathalie) Clark of Charlotte, North Carolina.
A celebration of Roger's amazing life is being planned. Venue and date will be announced when plans are complete.
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22 Condolence(s)
Lee A Schwager
Thursday, June 1, 2023
Jima and Clark, I am so so sorry to hear this. Know that I am thinking of you and praying for your family. Lee Schwager
Donna Lampkin Stephens
Thursday, June 1, 2023
I am very sorry to hear this. As I teach Journalism at UCA, I didn’t know Roger well, but he was always so kind and friendly. The previous comments by those who knew him better than I sum up my impression of him perfectly. And Gina, I had not put you two together until reading his obit. I was a sportswriter at the Arkansas Gazette when you were our go-to person at ASU. My deepest condolences.💜
Carla Grant
Thursday, June 1, 2023
❤
Chip Lindley
Thursday, June 1, 2023
Roger was my best friend, and drummer from 1965-1969. By the end of college at ASU, Jonesboro, AR, Roger quit music to devote full energies to his art! After his graduation, I lost track of him. My condolences and friendship to wife Jima, and all family.
Suzanne Loerch
Monday, May 29, 2023
What a beautiful tribute to Roger, acknowledging both the person and his art -- inseparable as with any true artist. Our thoughts are with you and your family, Jima. We will miss meeting you and Roger on our walks in the trail.
Jean and Terry Kearns
Sunday, May 28, 2023
Barbara Clancy
Saturday, May 27, 2023
What a lovely obituary - so fitting for such a lovely man. Roger was a sweet neighbor and a fellow walker on Tucker Creek trail. I will miss seeing him. No matter the weather, running into him and Jima always made the day happier and brighter. I'm so very sorry Jima and Clark.
Amanda Linn
Friday, May 26, 2023
When I was an art education major in the UCA art department, I struggled to feel like I was also taken seriously as an artist. Mr. Bowman told me he loved being a teacher because when he felt like doing his own art he could and when he didn’t feel inspired to create his own art he was always inspired by the students. I’ve carried that with me and shared it with many of my own students over the years. He was a kind soul, always encouraging, always willing to help a student. On more than one occasion he arrived at class and told us he was worn out from building a pillow fort with Clark. Sending wishes of comfort and peace to his family and all who knew him.
Gloria Westmorlan
Friday, May 26, 2023
Jima, I’m so sorry for your loss! From what I have been reading, he must have been a kind and talented person. I’m so glad I got to meet him at our class reunion. Praying for comfort for you and your family.
Gregory Clark
Friday, May 26, 2023
I will miss my Uncle Roger, he was such a kind, gentle and talented man. Much love to all of the family during this difficult time.
Casserandia Crouch
Thursday, May 25, 2023
What wonderful tributes to Roger. As a teacher/prof he touched and influenced so many peoples lives. Teachers are so undervalued by our society. But I know he wasn't undervalued by his family. I'm sorry that his loss leaves such a hole in your family life. Love and peace to you, Jimi.
Tanya and Sam Buchanan
Thursday, May 25, 2023
Julie Turner
Thursday, May 25, 2023
Jima, Clark, and family-I’m so sorry for your loss. Keeping you in my thoughts! Big hugs!
Karen Arnold
Thursday, May 25, 2023
Gina and family so sorry to hear of Roger passing. Prayers for you and your family during this time.
Mary Catherine Flanagin Glover
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Jima, Clark and family- I’m so sorry about Roger! Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers! ❤️🙏🏻
Sylvia Childers
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Jima and Clark I am s sorry to learn of Roger’s passing! You have my prayers and heart felt condolences. Ken and Sylvia
Maxine N Payne
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
In the spring semester of 1989, I was a first generation, parentless, insecure, ill prepared, financially destitute freshman at UCA. I signed up for art classes and by some kind of graciousness from the universe met Mr. Bowman. UCA didn’t offer photography classes in the art department, but he had the foresight to recognize that the camera might be the tool I needed to express the struggles I had between how I was raised and who I wanted to become. He loaned me his personal Pentax K1000 and helped me construct a makeshift darkroom in the attic of McAlister Hall. After a semester, I saved enough money to go to Olsen’s Camera shop downtown and get my own Pentax K1000 which my adult daughter uses now. I followed Mr. Bowman’s advice when I was considering where to go for graduate school and went to his alma mater, The University of Iowa. I have been teaching college level photography for twenty-six years, and while that isn’t anything extraordinary, my life could have taken a much harder turn. Over the course of my career people have asked me how I got to where I am (a common question) and for all these years I have said, there was this one generous, kind, incredible human being who put his faith in me at the most critical time in my life. I will hold him close to my heart forever.
Bryan W. Massey, Sr.
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Roger was a few years older than I, but we both started our collegiate careers at the University of Central Arkansas at the same time. It was August 15, 1988. I was fresh out of Graduate School (LSU) and he was coming from a small college to UCA.
We were both quiet, but we seemed to connect. I relied on his previous years of college teaching experience to help guide me through my first year. He was always ready to lend a helping hand or a listening ear. He had a soft voice to go along with his soft heart. A heck of an artist, printmaker, colleague, and I was glad that our paths crossed, and to call him a friend. No matter where I saw him and Jima, he was always the same. Rest in peace Professor Bowman!🙏🏽
Mike and Carol Hambuchen
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Words cannot express our sorrow at the passing of Roger. His kind and gentle demeanor was an inspiration to us all, as well as his incredible creativity and artistic talent. But most of all, he was a wonderful Pepaw to his beautiful granddaughter Greta. It was an honor to know him.
Carol and Mike
Mike and Carol Hambuchen
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Words cannot express our sorrow at the passing of Roger. His kind and gentle demeanor was an inspiration to us all, as well as his incredible creativity and artistic talent. But most of all, he was a wonderful Pepaw to his beautiful granddaughter Greta. It was an honor to know him.
Carol and Mike
Gina Bowman
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
I miss my brother. He loved his family, friends and life. Rest in eternal peace Roger.
Lyn Brands
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Roger took me under his wing when I joined the UCA Department of Art faculty back in '92. He quickly became my mentor and confident for all things UCA. I always tried to sit next to him at department faculty meetings because I got to watch him create these fantastic doodle drawings. Other times, he would sculpt these little creatures out of his grey kneaded eraser.
Beyond that, he was a close friend and a great listener. I've missed him terribly having moved on to another job 20 years ago and I will continue to miss him, his sense of humor, and the way he said 'delightful.' It always brings a smile when I think of it. A kinder soul I've never known. Rest peacefully now, Roger.