Garland Bowen

Garland "Junior" Bowen, 86, of 3655 Towery Road, passed away on Friday, March 1, 2013.

A native of Cleveland County, Mr. Bowen was a member of Beaver Dam Baptist Church which he loved the same as his family. He served as former secretary there of his Sunday school class. Mr. Bowen was a veteran of World War II, and served in the U. S. Army from May 1945 to Oct. 1946 as a mail clerk in Germany. His favorite job of many was at Firestone Steel Plant in Spartanburg, S.C. He also loved farming and always had a large garden. Mr. Bowen loved to "ramble" trade lots with Tim Blanton, and spending time with his family and also time under the shade tree with his brothers.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Garland Victor Bowen and Nellie Poole Bowen; brothers, Howard, Dwight and Dean Bowen; and great-grandchild, Laura Padgett.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Betty Jean Jones Bowen of the home; sons, Kenneth W. Bowen and Sara of Shelby, and Dennis C. Bowen and Shelia of Shelby; daughters, Brenda and Howard Padgett Jr. of Shelby, and Linda Faye Bowen of the home; brother, Bobby Bowen of Shelby; sister, Martha Jane Crosby of Shelby; special friend, Lee Bridges of Shelby; eight grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.