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Vaughn Bowen Obituary
Vaughn Eugene Bowen died peacefully in Trinity Towers on April 30, 2017, in Corpus Christi, Texas at the age of 95.
Vaughn is survived by his children Spencer (Geri) Bowen, Cheryl Andrews, RoxAnne (Cliff) Schlabach, and Don (Nancy) Bowen, his grandchildren, Lisa Davis McKinzie, Lindsay Davis, Shana Bowen Newkirk, Cara Bowen, Keith Andrews, Chelsea Bowen and his great grandchildren Joshua Davis, Dillon Andrews, Sara Davis, Kaitlyn Bounsall, Robert Davis, McKinzy Andrews, Henry Newkirk, Sean Andrews, and many nieces and nephews. His love also extended to family members Ginger, Martin, Derek, Shary, Paul and the ever faithful chocolate lab Cinnamon. At 95 years of age he was preceded in death most sorrowfully by his wife, Vivian Marie, and by his parents and all of his siblings.
Vaughn was born on October 16, 1922, in Lynn, Indiana to Gideon Shaw and Ursula Mae Bowen. After graduating from Lynn high school, he briefly studied engineering at Purdue University until he joined the Marine Corps. He loved being a Marine Corps pilot and serving his country and kept in contact with his fellow Marines over the years. He often attended the Marine Corp Anniversary Ball where he was usually the oldest Marine there. It was during his flight training that he got his first glimpse of Corpus Christi at the Naval Air Station. Before the war's end, in 1943 he married Vivian Marie Hardwick, his high school sweetheart and the love of his life. During World War II, he flew the F4U (Corsair) in various Pacific locations including Midway and Okinawa. After the war, he sold auto parts and farmed in Indiana until he was recalled during the Korean conflict. He moved his family to Columbus, Ohio, Cherry Point, North Carolina, Opa-locka, Florida, and Kingsville, Texas. He was a "jet jockey", instructing cadets in various planes, but primarily in the F9F Panther Jet. Until his death, he often remarked about how much he missed flying--something he would have loved to do for the rest of his life. After 17 years in the Marine Corps (achieving the rank of Major), he joined civilian life and moved his family to Corpus Christi. He established a long career in real estate in Corpus and enjoyed an association with many colleagues and friends in the business.
His passion and love for God, his family and the many friendships including those made at First Christian Church, Harbor Place and Trinity Towers, and throughout his life were evident through his actions and the way he lived.
A "time of remembering" is scheduled at Trinity Towers, 101 Upper Broadway, Tuesday, May 2, 2017, 10:00 am.
A memorial is scheduled for Thursday, May 4, 2017, at 2:00 pm at First Christian Church, 3401 Santa Fe St., Corpus Christi, with a reception to follow in the parlor. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Vaughn's life. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to First Christian Church at 3401 Santa Fe, Corpus Christi, Texas 78411.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Vaughn Bowen
3 Entries
A. H.
May 8, 2017
Celebrating a life well lived. We will cherish the memories forever.
Janet Barnard
May 2, 2017
I want to add to the celebration of Vaugh's life. He was such a good friend to my father, Harvey Olander. They spent many hours tangling with and improving their computers' processing capabilities. And that was in the "frontier" days of computers and computer technology.
After my father's passing, even my mother called on him a few times to deal with a computer snafu.
I remember him with much fondness and extend my condolences to the Bowen Family.
The staff of Habitat for Humanity Corpus Christi
May 2, 2017
So sorry for your loss. Our prayers our with you and your family.
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