Lamar D. Bowles

Lamar Dean Bowles, of Seabrook, Texas, passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 2, 2017, at The Crossings in League City, Texas. Born in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, on January 5, 1930, to Virgie and Malcomb K. Bowles, Lamar graduated from Rolling Fork High School and received a Bachelor of Science degree from Mississippi College in 1951. Lamar is preceded in death by his parents, brother, and former wife, Ann, with whom he remained friends until her death, December 15, 2014. He is survived by his two daughters, Debra Bowles Henderson and Martha Bowles, sons-in-law, Matthew Henderson and Scott Rainey, grandchildren; Chase Cusack, Amara Henderson, Nicholas Henderson, Taylor Rainey McConnell and husband Chris McConnell, and three great grandchildren, Josh, Parker, and Charlie McConnell, along with numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Upon graduation from college, Lamar joined the Air Force and completed his Basic Training in San Antonio, Texas, and then was stationed at Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio. There he met and married his wife, Ann Carty in 1953. Soon after, he was stationed in Montgomery, Alabama and attended Squadron Officer's Training, after which he was stationed at Patrick AFB Florida. At Patrick, he began his aerospace career, and worked at Cape Canaveral during the beginnings of the Space Program. His military career spanned 25 years, with two additional moves, first to Los Angeles AFB, California, and then to NASA, Clear Lake/Houston, Texas. He retired as a full Colonel in 1977, and went on to work as Site Director-Senior Advisor for Rockwell International Space Systems Division for Houston Operations. Lamar had a passion for the space program, and worked on all the missions from the beginning of the space program through the Space Shuttle Missions. He retired from Rockwell International in 1990, after which he did consulting for various space corporations in the NASA area. During his Air Force and civilian career, he received numerous awards, including The Outstanding Service Contribution Award for the AF Space Shuttle Mission, and the Silver Knight of Management Award from the National Management Association.

In addition to his passion about space, Lamar was also passionate about serving the community. Lamar was a member of Space Center Rotary for 36 years and served as president in 1995-96. He attended the club meetings every Monday, and loved all his fellow Rotarians and the work they do to serve others. In 1986 Lamar was chosen as the King of the Lunar Rendezvous Festival, and then continued to serve on the Board. He served on many Board of Directors, including, Golf Crest Country Club, Houston Methodist St. John Hospital, Clear Lake Regional Hospital, Prosperity Bank, and The Board of Edgar A. Smith YMCA. Lamar was an avid golfer, fisherman, and hunter. He often could be found at Golf Crest Country Club playing golf and gin rummy with his many friends.

A Memorial Service will be held in loving memory of Lamar, on Saturday, November 18, at 5:00 at Bay Oaks Country Club, Houston. Interment will follow at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas. Date and time to be determined. In lieu of flowers, a contribution may be made in memory of Lamar Bowles to the American Heart Association, or your favorite charity.