Sanford "Keith" Bowen

PFC Sanford Keith "Keety" Bowen, 26
PFC Sanford Keith "Keety" Bowen, 26 of Ashland was killed in action on January 20, 1945 in Reipertswiller, France.
In January 1945, Bowen was assigned to Company I, 3rd Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division. The unit was attempting to secure terrain near Reipertswiller, France, when it was surrounded by German forces. Company I and the four other companies surrounded with it were given the order to attempt a break-out on Jan. 20, 1945, but only two men from Company I made it through German lines. The rest were either captured or killed. Bowen was among those killed, but his body could not be recovered because of the fighting. He was declared non-recoverable on May 8, 1951.
He was laid to rest with other unidentified soldiers at the Epinal American Cemetery in France. A bronze rosette has now been placed next to his name indicating that he has been identified and will be repatriated home.
Keith was born on August 13, 1918 in West Salem, the son of Sanford Ray and Pearl (nee Lindsey) Bowen. He was raised in Ashland, Ohio by the affluent Clark family.
Keith was a 1937 graduate of Ashland High School. During high school, he served as the stage manager for drama productions and the business manager for "The Guide" Ashland High School's yearbook. Following his graduation, he furthered his education and attended Ashland College and completed three years at Ohio University. He was employed at the Hess & Clark Company as a department supervisor at the time he was drafted into the United States Army from Cleveland, Ohio in 1942.
He married the love of his life, the former Virginia "Ginny" Page in 1943. While at war, his bride would welcome the couples only son, Sanford Reed Bowen into this world on November 8, 1944; a son he never met, and saw only by a black and white photograph.
At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife, Mrs. Virigina Bowen of Ashland; one son, Sanford Reed Bowen of the home; his father, Sanford Ray Bowen; three siblings, Leta Bowen Topper, Wilma Bowen Clark, and Paul Bowen. In addition to his mother and sister Dorothy Bowen; and additional siblings, his father, wife and son have already joined him in death.
Keith is survived today by two granddaughters, Lisa Simpson of North Ridgeville and Lori (Tom) Reinbolt of Creston; one great grandson, Austin Miller of Fort Collins, Colorado; five nieces and nephews, Connie Clark Jones of Boca Raton, Florida, Stephen Clark of Hampstead, North Carolina, Janet Topper DeVault of Barberton, Jean Bowen Poole of Prescott, Arizona, and Barbara Bowen Wilkie of Akron; and many additional great nieces and nephews survive.
He was joined in death by six nieces and nephews, Richard Bowen, Phyllis Bowen Bailey, Thomas Keith Bowen, William Clark, Anne Clark Carlyle, and Richard Topper and many other family members.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 22, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. in the Jack and Deb Miller Chapel at Ashland University, 456 College Avenue, Ashland, Ohio 44805 with Reverend Dr. JoAnn Ford-Watson presiding. Interment will follow in the Mt. Hope Cemetery in Shiloh, Ohio where the United States Army Honor Guard will conduct military honors with a special commendation for Keith.
Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home, 313 Center Street, Ashland, Ohio 44805, will open their doors to the public, on Thursday, July 21, 2022 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for the public to pay their respects.
The family will host a visitation on Friday from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the chapel prior to the beginning of the ceremony.
For those unable to attend, online condolences may be shared on the funeral home's website at denbowfh.com
Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to be handling the arrangements for the Bowen Family.