Letitia Ann Stumbo Bowman

Jan 9, 1940 -

Jun 4, 2026

Letitia Ann Stumbo Bowman, Tish, of Anchorage, Alaska, died on Thursday, June 4, 2026. She was 86 years old. She was preceded in death by her husband of 40 years, Howard Norman Bowman; parents, Garnet Crihfield and Richard William Stumbo; and brother, Richard William Stumbo Jr. She is survived by her brother, Donald Arthur Stumbo, her nieces and nephews.

Tish was born on Jan. 9, 1940, in Topeka, Kan. She graduated from Beloit Memorial High School. She then earned her bachelor's degree in English from the University of Wisconsin Madison. Upon graduation, Tish decided to continue her education at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where she met Howard. Tish and Howard were married on Dec. 21, 1962. Over the years, they lived in Fairbanks, Kotzebue, Iliamna, McGrath and Farewell, Alaska. While in Iliamna and McGrath, Tish worked for the Weather Bureau. Once Howard retired, they moved to their cabin on Lake Clark.

In Alaska, Tish rekindled her earlier love of art. She did silk screens, wood cuts, batik and oil paintings. Her painting "The Procession" of children playing with cow parsnips won the Pratt Museum's Spring Juried Art show in 1987, and is in the museum's permanent collection in Homer. She was chosen to design an ornament representing Lake Clark National Park and Preserve for the 2001 White House Christmas tree, with the theme "Holiday in the National Parks." Her art focused on the natural beauty of Alaska and its inhabitants.

After Howard's death, Tish continued to live in their cabin during the summers and wintered in Port Alsworth, Alaska. She gave art lessons to some of the Port Alsworth children. Eventually she moved to Anchorage. She was dearly loved by her family and friends and will be greatly missed.