William Melvin Bowling, Sr., age 83, of 800 W. Ridgeway St, Scott Hill Apartments, Clifton Forge, Virginia, died Thursday, September 2, 2010 at his residence.

He was born February 6, 1927 in Nelson County, Virginia, a son of the late William Marcellus and Virginia Elizabeth Proffitt Bowling.

He served in the United States Navy during World War II and retired as the owner of Bowling Plumbing and Heating.

He was a member of Covington Baptist Church.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Jack Bowling.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy Carol Hazen Bowling of Clifton Forge; two daughters, Martha Ann Woods of Roanoke and Lana C. Steele and husband, Keith of Roanoke; three sons, William Melvin Bowling, Jr. and wife, Suzanne of Roanoke, Gary Fitzgerald Clark of Clifton Forge, and Wiley Eugene Clark and wife, Dorothy of Clifton Forge; a brother, Henry C. Bowling and wife, Nita of California; eight grandchildren, Shannon C. Maggi, Corey N. Clark, Crystal M. Clark, Gregory T. Chesnut, Whitney M. Clark, Robert E. Clark, James W. Bowling, and Megan E. Bowling; a great grandson, Josiah L. Clark, and two great grandchildren expected soon; numerous nieces and nephews; special friends, Virginia Chesnut, Edith Snead, and Maxine Lenburg; and special caregivers, Amanda Robinson, Dianna Bowles, Cheryl Persinger, RN, Susan Sparks, RN, Cassie Scott, Lacassa Pritt, Russell Woodzell, Wanda and Walter Ferguson, Brenda Lindsay, RN, and Reverend Edith Snedegar.

Funeral services will be held on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. in First Christian Church, Covington with J. B. Broughman and Reverend Bill Gilliland officiating. Interment will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Covington. Pallbearers will be Mr. Bowling's grandsons and those attending the service. The family will receive friends Saturday evening from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge. Friends may also visit with the family on Sunday, one hour prior to the service at First Christian Church. Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge is in charge of arrangements. The family suggests memorial tributes take the form of contributions to Mountain Regional Hospice Volunteers, P. O. Box 637, Clifton Forge, VA 24422.

The Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge, is in charge of arrangements.