August 30, 1921 ~ October 25, 2011 (age 90)
Graveside services for Mr. Avis Leon Bowden, age 90, of Norman, will begin at 11:00 am Saturday, October 29, 2011 in the Brushy Cemetery in Bowie, Texas with Dr. Joe Thedford officiating. The family will greet friends from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday, October 28, 2011 at the Havenbrook Funeral Home, 3401 Havenbrook Street in Norman.
Avis was born August 30, 1921 in Bowie, Texas the son B.C. and Bessie (Senter) Bowden. He passed away Tuesday, October 25, 2011 at his Norman home.
Avis attended public schools in Bowie, graduating from Bowie High School in 1939. He later enlisted into the United States Army on October 12, 1942 in Dallas, Texas. He served nearly three years before being honorably discharged on September 25, 1945 at the Separation Center at Fort Sam Houston in Texas. He was united in marriage to Miss Ruby Irene Egenbacher on July 30, 1949 in Bowie, Texas. Avis spent a career in Aircraft Maintenance for many years before retiring in 1986.
He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Woodmen of the World. Avis enjoyed fishing in the Gulf of Mexico and for 35 years he and his "fishing buddies" traveled to Colorado for their annual trout fishing trip. Avis was also an accomplished piano player, playing only by ear.
Survivors include his wife of more than 62 years, Ruby Bowden; two sons, Ron Bowden and his wife, Linda of Sioux City, Iowa and Richard Bowden and his wife, Jackie of Norman, OK; four grandchildren, Bryan Bowden, Adam Bowden, Becky Bowden and Sarah Jane Bowden.
He was preceded in death by his parents; six bothers, Robert Bowden, Cecil Bowden, Guinn Bowden, Carol Bowden, Fred Bowden, and Maurice Bowden and two sisters; Opal Thedford and Maurine Bar