LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Carolyn Bowman Wolf

Carolyn Bowman Wolf passed away Thursday, Aug. 17, her 65th birthday, at her home in Lafayette, California following a 4-year back-and-forth battle with cancer.

Born Carolyn June Bowman and raised on a dairy farm in West Unity, Ohio, daughter to Joline (Shaffer) and Lloyd Bowman, Sr., she began playing piano at a 7 years old and teaching piano at 14. She left home at 17 to tour the Midwest and Pacific Northwest with musical groups and entertained for a short time on cruise ships out of New York City and Fort Lauderdale before ultimately settling in the East Bay Area in Northern California. On May 7, 1994, Carolyn married Edwin Paul Wolf at a ceremony in Danville, California.

Her passion and career was music; she continued to work as a voice and piano teacher as well as accompanist and/or music director for numerous community theatre programs, singing groups and churches. She worked in varying capacities at Hillside Covenant Church in Walnut Creek, California, including Music Minister, for a total of 38 years.

She leaves behind her husband of 23 years, Edwin; 3 stepsons: Logan (Megan) Wolf of Lafayette, California; Leigh Wolf of Washington D.C.; Landon (Kayla) Wolf of Rocklin, California; and 1 granddaughter, Mackenzie; as well as her mother, Joline, of Bryan, Ohio; sisters Jane (Irvin Fender) Fry of Auburn, Indiana; Linda (Dana) Smith of Bryan, Ohio; Beth (Alan) Surfus of Markle, Indiana; Sandy Bowman of Bryan, Ohio; Annette (Ron) Zaper of White House, Ohio and brother Lloyd F. (Susan) Bowman of West Unity, Ohio.

She was preceded in death by her father, Lloyd W. Bowman, and a sister, Susan Bowman.

Memorial Service will be held Saturday, Sept. 23 at 1 p.m. in the Sanctuary of Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church with Pastor Jeff Reed of Hillside Covenant Church officiating. For questions or more information or to submit photos, music, or stories of Carolyn, please email CarolynWolfLegacy@gmail.com.