Wade Hampton Bowie, Jr.

View Funeral Webcast Wade Hampton Bowie, Jr., passed away on March 31, 2017 in Hoover, Alabama, after a life of service to others and country. Born to the late Wade Hampton Bowie and Nora Esther Clemens Bowie, Wade grew up in Columbia, Tennessee, with his sisters, Barbara and the late Vivian, and his brother Thomas. He became an Eagle Scout and attended Columbia Military Academy. He later enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving as a platoon leader in Vietnam and later as the head of security for the Supreme Allied Commander at the Supreme Headquarters, Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), and at numerous US posts. He earned a number of accolades, including his Ranger Tab, Airborne Wings, the Legion of Merit, and a Bronze Star. After 28 years of service, Wade ultimately retired as a Lieutenant Colonel at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where he had served as an instructor for low intensity conflict at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and as Deputy Director of the U.S. Army Low Intensity Conflict Proponency Directorate. For a short time, Wade served as a consultant to help governments and other agencies to combat international drug trafficking from South America. Wade then attended law school and subsequently enjoyed a second career as a prosecuting attorney in Kansas, where he tirelessly worked to protect at-risk children and their families. In addition, he participated in a number of state-based initiatives and served on a committee that successfully revised the juvenile codes of Kansas. Throughout his life, Wade loved and supported his children, Wade Hampton Bowie, II and James Bowie. He also met and courted his fiancée, Karen Hopkins, who joined him on a series of domestic and international travels, including a trip to China and a return relief and mission trip to Vietnam. He continued to participate in reunions for Vietnam veterans and for the extended Bowie family. Survivors include his sons, Wade Hampton (Shelly) Bowie, II; James Clemens Bowie; fiancée, Karen Hopkins; and siblings, Barbara Duane Hopkins; and Thomas Clemens (Jan) Bowie. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Vivian Ann Bowie Beard Pilant. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 8, 2017 at 1:00 P.M. at St. Peter's Episcopal Church with Father Thomas Wilson and Father Chris Bowhay officiating. Burial will follow in St. John's Churchyard. The family will visit with friends Friday from 5:00 – 8:00 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home and Saturday from 11:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M. at the church. Wade's many achievements are not easily summarized, and his greatest accomplishments are not ones that can be listed on paper. The family requests memorials to be made to Douglass County Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program https://dccasa.iescentral.com\index.html or Vets with a Mission http://www.vetswithamission.org\donate . Wade's life, awards and accomplishments FAMILY: Parents: Wade H. and Nora Esther Clemens Bowie (deceased), formerly of Columbia, Tennessee Fiancée: Karen K. Hopkins Sons: Wade H. (Shelly) Bowie, II, Chesterfield, Michigan James C. Bowie, New York, New York Siblings: Barbara Duane Bowie Hopkins, Nashville, Tennessee Vivian Ann Bowie Beard Pilant (deceased), formerly of Columbia, South Carolina Thomas Clemens (Jan) Bowie, Carefree, Arizona SCHOOLS ATTENDED: McDowell Elementary School, Whitthorne Junior High School, Columbia Military Academy in Columbia, Tennessee; Auburn University, Auburn Alabama, Psychology Major; Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, Kentucky, Sociology Major; Washburn University School of Law, Topeka, Kansas, J.D. CLUBS, FRATERNITIES, ASSOCIATIONS OR HONOR SOCIETIES: Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Explorer Scouts, Order of the Arrow Member, Non-Traditional Law Student Association, Member, Order of Barristers Nontraditional Law Student Association MILITARY SERVICE: Entered the US military as a cannoneer in B Battery, 2nd AW Bn (SP) 278th Artillery Bde (Alabama Army National Guard) in May 1966. Resigned from the National Guard in January 1967, enlisted in the regular army and attended basic combat training (BCT); advanced individual training (AIT), Infantry; leadership training; and infantry officer candidate school leading to commissioning as a 2nd Lieutenant in the infantry. Subsequently served as a propaganda officer in the 3rd Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, attended airborne and ranger training and served a tour in Vietnam with D Company, 1st Battalion, 327th Combat Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Ambl). Ultimately retired as a Lieutenant Colonel after tours in Europe at the Supreme Headquarters, Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), multiple locations in the United States including his last duty station before retirement at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas where he served originally as an instructor in the Low Intensity Conflict Division, Department of Joint and Combined Operations, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and subsequently as the Deputy Director, U.S. Army Low Intensity Conflict (LIC) Proponency Directorate. CITATIONS / AWARDS: Combat Infantry Badge; Ranger Tab; Airborne Wings; Legion of Merit; Bronze Star; Army Commendation; Humanitarian Service Award; Vietnam Service Medal; Vietnam Campaign Medal HIGHEST RANK/GRADE: Lieutenant Colonel CIVIC OR PUBLIC OFFICES HELD: Served as: A prosecutor (state's attorney as an assistant county or district attorney) in Lyon, Shawnee and Douglas Counties, Kansas; Legal counsel for the Kansas Juvenile Justice Authority; SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENTS/RECOGNITION: Member of the Juvenile Offender / Child in Need of Care Advisory Committee to the Kansas Judicial Counsel; Member and former Chair of the Kansas Child Safety and Permanency Review Panel; Member of Statewide (Kansas) Improvement Team for Reduction of Children in need of Care; Member of the Kansas Courts, Education, Social Services and Juvenile Justice Liaison Group; Member of Kansas Governor's Healthcare Working Group; Member and former President of the Kansas Association of Counsel for Children; Member of the Washburn University School of Law's Strategic Planning Committee; Member of the American Inns of Court; Member of the Kansas and Douglas County Bar Associations. Commercial and Instrument rated pilot, single and multi engine land aircraft