Trula Pond Bowman

Trula Mae Neal Pond Bowman

Age 93, of Diamond, Illinois, died peacefully on Wednesday May 24, 2017 at the Joliet Area Community Hospice Home.

Trula was the loving daughter of Kemp and Bessie Fisher Neal and older sister of Clarence and Vernon. She was born on May 1, 1924 in Ellery, Edwards County in the family’s farmhouse. The two-room log house was built by her grandfather in 1881 and was insulated with rags and papers stuck between the logs.

She attended Gill School, a one-room country school for eight years. One snowy day her father walked ahead for 1 ½ miles to provide a path for her and her brothers to school because the snow was so deep. When she was in the eighth grade, her teacher Mr. Mann encouraged the whole school to play harmonicas. Trula started to play harmonica then and continued until her death.

Trula graduated from Albion High School in 1942. After high school, Trula assisted with housekeeping and childcare for several expectant mothers. This also involved scrubbing overalls, washing milk pans, feeding hound dogs, and chopping wood. During the war, Trula worked in a coil factory in Albion, Illinois and continued there until 1951.

In May 1946, Trula married Edward Eldon Pond, an army veteran from Bone Gap, Illinois. He was a brick mason, and his specialty was building fireplaces. He worked with a partner for many years, then Trula worked with Edward for 15 years mixing mortar in a wheelbarrow with a mixer. She also put up and took down scaffolding, carried bricks and blocks, tuck-pointed and did everything else that comes with bricklaying.

Trula and Edward lived at the Wilmington Recreation Club from 1954 until February 1980, when they moved to a house in Diamond. Edward passed away in 1988.

Trula married Donald Bowman, a navy veteran of South Bend, Indiana in 1990 and they lived together in Diamond. They had both graduated from Albion High School the same year and reconnected following the passing of their respective spouses. They took a honeymoon trip to California and Hawaii for a month. Don passed away in 2004, and Trula continued to live in Diamond until her death.

Trula enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren, and her beloved great grandchildren. She liked to play cards, board games, and do puzzles. She also enjoyed pitching washers, playing horseshoes, and fishing. Trula would spend time playing harmonica at local blue grass jams and was the lead musician at family gatherings.

A 50 year member of Eastern Star and lifetime member of the VFW Auxiliary, Trula always wanted to help the less fortunate. She belonged to TOPS from February 1989 until 2010. She was the last remaining member of the Wilmington Swingers Band. She had been a treasurer and president of Wilmington Island Squares square dance group and was a member from 1974 to 1988.

Trula was baptized at the Little Prairie Church in Albion in 1938, and then baptized again in the waters of the Wilmington Recreation Club in 1960. She belonged to the First Christian Church in Wilmington, where she and Edward were founding members and built the brick fellowship hall in 1975. The praise band featured her harmonica playing for several years.

Trula is survived by her loving children: Karla Ernst of Munich, Germany, Dana (Melcy) Pond of Plainfield, and Marla (Michael) Page of Tallahassee, Florida; caring step-children: Peggy Ogelsby of Bloomington, Indiana and Michael (Karen) Bowman of Elkhart, Indiana; adoring grandchildren: Michelle Nash of Homer Glen, Teneal (Derek) Rusnak of San Marcos, California, Carson (Ashley) Pond of Plainfield, and Lydia Pond of Plainfield; loving great grandchildren: Jacob, Alexandra and Andrew Nash, Cayley Rusnak, and Kemp and Adler Pond; sisters-in-law: Roberta Neal and Joann Neal; brother-in-law: Ray (Alma) Peirson of Danville, Illinois and Charles Bowman; and cherished friends Ken and Becky Presley.

Trula is preceded death by her parents, her husbands, beloved brothers: Vernon Neal and Clarence Neal; infant brother: William John Neal; and her adoring grandson: Kemp Pond.

Per Trula’s wishes, cremation rites have been accorded, and a memorial visitation will be held Tuesday May 30, 2017 at First Christian Church, 1824 Church Street, in Wilmington from 4:00 p.m. until the time of memorial service at 6:00 p.m., with Pastor Zach Griepenstroh officiating.

Preferred memorials may be made as gifts in Trula’s memory to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Family and friends may sign the online guestbook, upload photographs, or share Trula’s memorial page by logging onto: www.BaskervilleFuneral.com

Cremation services and memorial arrangements have been made under the direction and care of Baskerville Funeral Home, 700 East Kahler Road, in Wilmington 815-476-2181 .