| Roane county minister Rev. John W. Bowen has died at age 80.
He passed away April 28, 2004 at Roane General Hospital.
He was born March 3, 1924, in Looneyville, a son of the late George Washington and Vesta Cottrell Bowen.
Bowen, the father of the well-known Bowen family singers, pastored numerous churches in Roane County during the past 50 years and was a member of the Spencer Tabernacle Church, where he served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher.
Bowen was a radio and television technician and former instructor at the Roane-Jackson Vocational Technical Center. He was a veteran of World War II and a ham radio operator.
He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law Cathy and Steve Snodgrass of Spencer, three sons and daughters-in-law, Tom and Patricia Bowen, Rev. Garry L. and Vickie Bowen and David and Shelia Bowen, all of Spencer.
Also surviving are sisters, Ernestine Carpenter of Ravenswood, Anna Faye Edgell of Spencer and Mary Marie "Reek" and Ernest "Bud" Hively of Spencer. Also 11 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents preceded in death by his wife Lissetta Ruth Bartlett Bowen and a brother Ray Bowen.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the John H. Taylor Funeral Home of Spencer with the Rev. Leon Strickland officiating. Burial will be in the Clover Cemetery.
Visitation 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Friday, and Saturday from 9 a.m. until the hour of the service
Memorial contributions may be made to the Spencer Tabernacle Building Fund, PO Box 1205, Spencer WV 25276.
| 
