Virgil Ray Bowen

Dateline:  Metter

Virgil Ray Bowen, 94, of Metter passed away Monday, Janaury 30, 2017 at Cedar Plantation Assisted Living in Metter. A lifelong resident of Metter, he was born on February 3, 1922, the son of Benjamin Gordon Bowen, Sr. and Gertrude Trapnell Bowen and the grandson of Moses Jackson and Julia Olliff Bowen. Ray was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving in Normandy and Naples during World War II and received a Purple Heart. He retired from the United States Postal Service after 34 years as a rural letter carrier. After his retirement, he worked as a funeral attendant with Kennedy Funeral Homes for almost 30 years.

Mr. Bowen joined the Metter Primitive Baptist Church in 1944 and has served faithfully as a Deacon for the past 65 years. He was a founding charter member of the Willow Lake Country Club and a founding member of the Metter Lions Club.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife, Bobbie Faye Bazemore Bowen; a son, David Lynn Bowen; six brothers, Fred, John G., Denver, B.G., Brooks and Arthur Bowen and three sisters, June Bowen Hendrix, Alma Bowen Nelson and Earline Bowen Wallace.

Survivors are two sons and daughters-in-law, Andy and Sherrie Bowen of Metter and Jimmy and Donna Bowen of Jacksonville, FL; a brother, Robert Bowen of Huntsville, AL; two sisters-in-law, Mary Bowen of Atlanta and Billie Zean (Frank) Williams of Vienna, VA; three grandchildren, Erin Bowen (Jon) Brackney, and Evin Bowen both of Jacksonville and Cooper Bowen of Aline; and a great-grandson, Deklan Cooper Brackney Bowen of Jacksonville, Fl; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be conducted Friday, on his 95th birthday, at 11:00 am at the Metter Primitive Baptist Church with Elder Mike Newman officiating. Burial will be in the Lake Cemetery with Military Honors observed. The body will lie in state at the church one hour prior to the service. Visitation will be Thursday, 5:30-7:30 pm, at Kennedy Funeral Homes, Hooks Chapel.

Pallbearers will be the funeral directors with whom he had worked, Faye Kennedy, Faith Vedder, Don Kennedy, Tommy Flanders, Sonny Morgan and Jake Futch. Honorary pallbearers will be his funeral home associates, Metter Primitive Baptist Church deacons and the staff of Cedar Plantation. Guestbook:  www.kennedyfuneralhomechapels.com

Kennedy Funeral Homes, Hooks Chapel of Metter, is in charge of the arrangements.