Howard Bowen

Howard Oliver Bowen, Sr., 92, entered into rest on January 24, 2023.

Howard was born on March 5, 1930, in Anderson, South Carolina to the late David Bowen, Jr. and Edna Mae Bowen. He grew up in Anderson, South Carolina where he attended Anderson High School. He joined the Army, at which point they learned of his pitching abilities, and immediately recruited him to play as pitcher on the Army team. During his two-year service, he earned his GED, then married and started a family and went on to do a brief stint in minor league baseball. The family moved to Warner Robins. Here, he worked as security police for Robins Air Force Base and eventually, would become the chief of Robins Air Force Base’s security police force from which he retired in 1986. While his family was still young, Howard became involved in coaching little league baseball. He’d go on to coach football, basketball, and track in addition to baseball for over 15 years with the Warner Robins Rec Department. He passed his love of coaching on to his kids and grandkids. Howard was a 30-year member of the American Rose Society. His wife, Joan, judged and Howard was a self-appointed PhD (Pro hole digger). Howard and Joan were also very involved in the Middle Georgia Rose Society and the Southern District Rose Society together. His hobbies were another place he let his passion shine through. He could be found in his woodshop building furniture and joining Joan in her love of flowers. Howard loved God and Warner Robins. As a family oriented man, his family was always the most important thing to him!

In addition to his parents, Howard was preceded in death by his three brothers and two sisters; his daughter, Cheryl Bowen; his grandson, David Alton Bowen; and his great granddaughter, Paisley Anne Aloi. His memory will forever be treasured by his wife, Joan Croft Bowen; children, Howard “Bub” Bowen, Jr. (Cindy) of Warner Robins, Georgia, Max “Dub” Croft, Jr. of Winter Garden, Florida, Leslye Croft McMillan (Alec) of Kathleen, Georgia, Suzanne Croft Lane of Bonaire, Georgia, and Jennifer Croft (Al McKinley) of Lake Sinclair, Georgia; grandchildren, Justin Bowen (Rae), Derek Bowen (Shawnee), Kaley Bone (Tyler), J. Cassidy Grimes (Matt), Wesley Croft, Zachary Croft, Emily Aloi (Joe), Sarah Osborne (Griffin), Whitney Zamudio, Katie Kemp (Tyler), Madison Clayton (Chris), Geoffrey McMillan, Jessica Knickley, Elijah Williams (Erinn), Ellen McMillan James R. Lane, and Jenny Wogoman; great-grandchildren, Archer Grimes, Kirsten Bowen, Kylie Bowen, Katie Bowen, Kyndell Bowen, Avery Bowen, Tatum Bowen, Karter Bone, Reed Bone, Brooks Bone, Cayson Gilley, Caegen Gilley, Carsyn Gilley, Chaysen Willard, Lyric Buck, Savannah Hill, Ava Aloi, Gray Aloi, Abigail Osborne, Olivia Osborne, Riley Osborne, Max Zamudio, Aiden Zamudio, James Zamudio, Lilly Zamudio, Kenlee Clayton, Colton Clayton Isaac Lane, Rachel Lane, Eli Lane, Moriah Lane, Alexandria Wogoman, and Jamie Wogoman,; and his sisters, Mary Jo Bowen Miller and Lynn Davis of South Carolina.

The family will announce a memorial service to celebrate Howard’s life at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully suggests memorial donations be given in memory of Howard Bowen to Samaritan’s Purse at PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607.

Go to www.mcculloughfh.com to sign the Online Registry for the family. McCullough Funeral Home and Crematory has the privilege of being entrusted with these arrangements.