Daniel Ward Bowen Sr.

Daniel Ward Bowen, Sr. passed away at his home in Windsor, on December 6, 2008.
He was 82 years old. Dan was born August 23, 1926 in Windsor to Arthur Eugene (A.E.) and Carrie Ward Bowen. He attended Windsor Elementary and High School and graduated from Georgia Military Academy (GMA) in College Park, Georgia. He was in the Boy Scouts of America and played football.
Upon graduation from military school, he joined the United States Navy. He was assigned to a brand new ship, a heavy cruiser, USS St. Paul, nicknamed "the Snookie Poo". He was aboard ship for her shake down cruise and served in the Pacific Campaign of World War II. The USS St. Paul has the distinction of firing the last shot at the end of WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War before being decommissioned and was in the bay at the signing of the peace treaty ending WWII. Dan is a "plank owner" and attended the most recent national shipmate reunion.
Upon honorable discharge from the Navy, he enrolled at NC State College (now University) in Raleigh, NC on the GI Bill. He attended for three years as a Chemical Engineering major. While a student he married the former Helen Lucille Wright of Beaufort. The couple moved to Windsor and raised five children, Mary Joyce Brady (Karl), DiAnne Bowen, Beverly Kirkman, Dan Bowen, Jr. and Dorothy Nance (Keith). He has five grandchildren; four grandsons; one granddaughter, Will Kirkman, Karl Lee Brady, Jr., Keith Nance, Jr., Hunter Nance and Mary Laurel Brady.
Dan worked for the family-owned business of A.E. Bowen and Sons Wholesale Grocer and served as President until he and Lucille established The Dan Bowen Insurance Agency in Windsor.
Dan was active in the community. He was a President of the JCs and a "st Distinguished JC"award recipient, a President of the PTA, a member of the community Board of Development, a member of the Bertie County School Bond Issue, one of the original directors of Hope House Foundation, a member of the Veterans of Foreign War, and a Sunday School teacher and Deacon at the Cashie Baptist Church. Most recently, he served on the Beautification Committee for the town of Windsor.
Dan enjoyed gardening, writing, painting, photography, was an avid jazz enthusiast, and liked to travel domestically and abroad. Dan will be dearly missed by family. friends, and others who knew him as a Christian and patriotic American citizen.
Memorial funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Friday, December 12, 2008 at Cashie Baptist Church.
The family will receive friends 6:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday, November 11, 2008 at Walker Funeral Home in Windsor.
Online condolences may be sent to www.walkerfh.net
Walker Funeral Home of Windsor is serving the Bowen family