Dorinda Bowman

Dorinda was born in 1880. Dorinda’s family owned Bowman Jewelry Store on Howard Street from 1883 to 1955. They lived first on Fulton Street and later at 720 Grove Street. Dorinda studied to become a missionary in the Mennonite Church and went abroad for seven years doing missionary work. She served at an orphanage in Turkey from 1909-1913, then returned to Petoskey as WWI began. She spoke at churches in Petoskey about her experiences in war-torn Turkey. In 1923 she returned to the Middle East, this time to Lebanon and Syria, to aid refugees. She returned to Petoskey in 1931, to care for her aging father and invalid brother, Odie, while remaining active with her church. She remained until her death in 1966, and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery.

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Dorinda, seated far right, with orphans in Turkey.