Pastor Charles T. Bowman served as the district father of the Pennsylvania District, Fire Baptized Holiness Church.

Bowman died March 4, 2012. He was 80.

Bowman was born Sept. 12, 1931, to Richard J. and Shellie J. Bowman in Youngstown, Ohio. He was the youngest of 10 children. Eight of his siblings preceded him in death.

Being the son of an FBH Church elder, his family was transferred to Washington, D.C., where he attended grammar school. While in Washington, D.C., he was a member of Tried Stone, FBH Church. The family was then transferred to New York City, but Bowman attended school in Philadelphia, while living with his older sister, Bernice, and her family and graduated from Northeast High School.

He continued his education at Wheaton College in East Providence, R.I., and graduated with a bachelor’s degree. In 1950, he joined Mt. Olive FBH Church in New York City. He was later called to the ministry, and then attended the Zion Baptist Institute in Chicago, Ill., receiving a degree in theology.

He returned to Philadelphia and he taught for a number of years in the city’s public school system. He was then employed by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Assistance for over 30 years until he retired.

Bowman was appointed as the director of religious education of the Pennsylvania District FBH and served in that capacity for several years. He was responsible for many Christian educational programs and classes. In 1989, he spearheaded the D.R.E. Founder’s Birthday Celebration Tour; Looking Back To the Future. He was also the editor and publisher of The True Witness, the national publication of the Fire Baptized Holiness Church.

He served as pastor of the following churches: Mt. Pleasant, FBH Church, Philadelphia; Gist Mission, FBH Church, Camden, N.J.; St. Peter, FBH Church, Philadelphia; Gist Liberty, FBH Church, Camden, N.J.; Mr. Olive Rising Star, FBH Church, Rancocas, N.J.; and St. Andrews, FBH Church, Burlington, N.J.

In October 2011, Bowman was appointed district father of the Pennsylvania District, FBH. Although he was ill, Bowman aspired to build a church in Burlington, N.J.

He is survived by his sister, Jeanette Ward; nephews, Troy and Duane Frazier; sister-in-law, Pearleana J. Bowman; godchildren, Christopher Walker, Kevin Walker Jr. and Jessica E. Saunders; spiritual daughter, Rev. Ruby M. Walker; and other relatives and friends.

Services will be held March 10 at Gethsemene F.B.H. Church, 2629 York Street. Viewing is at 9 a.m. Services will follow at 10 a.m. Burial is in Valley Forge Memorial Gardens, King of Prussia, Pa.

Wood Funeral Home handled the arrangements.