John W. E. Bowen III

BOWEN John W. E. Bowen, III, age 84, passed away Friday, May 27, 2011. He was born October 4, 1926 in Jackson, Mississippi to the Reverend John W.E. Bowen, Jr. and Margaret Davis Bowen. He graduated from Gilbert Academy High School, of New Orleans, LA. He attended Lincoln University, in Oxford, PA and served in the United States Army. He attended the University of Southern California where he was a member of the 1948-1949 National Championship Track and Field team and a member of the University Choir, the University's Men's Glee Club and its A Capella Chorus. He is a 1953 graduate of the Ohio State University College of Law. He served for six years in the Columbus, Ohio City Attorney's Office and was engaged in the private practice of law for over 50 years. He was active in the United Methodist Church on a national, regional, and local basis, having served as a Delegate to the 1968 Quadrennial General Conference, a member of its 1956-1960 Quadrennial Commission on Christian Higher Education, Chairman of the National Quadrennial Commission's Subcommittee on Wills and Bequests, a member and Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Methodist Union of the Columbus, Ohio District, a member of the 1956 Provisional Committee that established Methodist Theological School in Delaware, Ohio, a member of the Board of Trustees of the newly established seminary, and a member of the West Ohio United Methodist Conference Board of Pensions. He was a member of the Ohio Senate, serving in the 107th and 108th General Assemblies from 1967 through 1970; a Director of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati, Ohio from 1972 through 1978, and served as Chairman of its Board of Directors from 1975 through 1977; a member of the Ohio Board of Regents from 1978 through 1982; a member of the Board of Directors of the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce from 1978 through 1983, and served as a Vice Chairman of the Board from 1981 through 1983; and was a Trustee of the Ohio Center Company for Community Urban Redevelopment from 1983 through 1986. He was a member of the Management Service Committee of the Ohio-West Virginia Area YMCA; a member of the Youth Committee National Board of the YMCA; a member of the Membership Committee of the Ohio-West Virginia Area YMCA; Vice Chairman of the Board of Management of the East Side Branch YMCA; and a member of the Board of Management of the Camp Willson Branch YMCA. John served consecutive years as Co-Chairman of the United Negro College Fund Columbus Campaign; and was Chairman of the Job Development and Empowerment Committee of the Columbus Urban League. He also was a Member of the Boards of Trustees of the Columbus Town Meeting, Columbus and Franklin County American Red Cross, Franklin County Mental Health Association, and former member of the Franklin County Regional Planning Commission. He is a Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; served as General Chairman of its 1962 General Convention (the National Convention) in Columbus, Ohio; and as a Lay Member (now known as Western Region Assistant Vice President) while a student at the University of Southern California). He was an Alternate Congressional District Delegate from the 15th U.S. Congressional District to the 1956 Republican National Convention in San Francisco, CA. He, received The Ohio State University Centennial Achievement Award in 1970, and was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree by Ohio Northern University in 1971. Additionally, he has received a number of other citations and awards for his community service and legislative work. He has served as an adjunct Professor of Law at The Ohio State University College of Law. He is survived by his wife, Jeanne Leahr Bowen; daughters, Janice Bowen James (Arthur), Margaret Bowen Sims, Rose Ann Bowen; son, John W.E. Bowen IV; four grandchildren; one great-grandson. Memorial Service 7 p.m. Thursday, June 2, 2011 at St. Philip's Episcopal Church, 166 Woodland Ave., where the family will receive friends from 5 p.m. until the start of service. (Organizational tributes will begin at 6 p.m.) Arrangements entrusted to DIEHL-WHITTAKER FUNERAL SERVICE, 720 E. Long Street. To sign the online memory book, please visit www.diehl-whittaker.com/obits