© Dennis Wilson

Obit for William posted by Ann Weber
Jul 24, 1929 - Oct 27, 2017

STUMPFF FUNERAL HOME
BARTLESVILLE, WASHINGTON CO, OK
(permission granted)

Mr. William Dean Bowden, 88, of Bartlesville, died at 5:17 A.M. on Friday, October 27, 2017 at the Jane Phillips Medical Center in Bartlesville.

A memorial gathering will be held at 11 A.M. on Saturday, November 4, 2017 at the New Harmony Baptist Church, east of Bartlesville on County Road 4015. A graveside service and urn interment will be held at 1 P.M. on Saturday at the Oglesby Cemetery with Chuck Kerns officiating. Cremation arrangements were under the direction of the Stumpff Funeral Home & Crematory.

The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the William Dean Bowden Memorial Fund for Church Missions, c/o Dewey First Baptist Church, 300 East 10th Street, Dewey, Oklahoma 74029.

Mr. Bowden was born at Fort Worth, Texas on July 24, 1929 the son of Virgil and Bertha (Young) Bowden. He grew up and received his education in Fort Worth and graduated from high school there. He attended a Baptist seminary school and then pastored in the 1950’s. He was married to Doris King at Enid, Oklahoma and they were married for 19 years. He later married Lou Estes and they were married for 38 years until her death on June 19, 2004. Mr. Bowden was married to Billie Marie Powell on February 14, 2005 at the New Harmony Baptist Church east of Bartlesville and they have made their home in the Bartlesville/Dewey area since that time. Mr. Bowden was a longtime employee of Montgomery Wards in Bartlesville, Enid and in Fort Worth. He had also been the owner of a security company at Enid in the 1960’s. He had been active as a carpenter in the carpentry shop at Phillips Petroleum Company in Bartlesville until his retirement. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Dewey, enjoyed building and fixing things and restoring old vehicles. He was also known for his story telling and jokes. He always celebrated his birthday with his step son-in-law, Rick Samson with whom he shared the same birthdate. He also enjoyed his daughter, Bonnie’s sense of humor and their time together.

Survivors include his wife, Billie Marie Bowden of Bartlesville, one son, Daniel Bowden of Oklahoma City, two daughters, Bonnie Parsons of Alma, Arkansas and Jana Bowden of Mexico, five step children, D. J. Estes and wife, Beth, of Tulsa, Sammye Samson and husband Rick of Norwalk, Iowa, Deborah McQueen and husband Bill of Bartlesville, Chuck Kerns of Bartlesville and Linda Kerns of Skiatook and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, R.M. Bowden and Gene Bowden, one sister, Elaine Alexander, a son Barry Bowden, a step son, Mark Estes and a step daughter, Georgeen Goodell.