Born May 8, 1926 in Butler, he was the son of John M. Bowen and Edith M. (Hageman) Bowen.

Mr. Bowen was an employee of the processing maintenance department for Armco Steel, retiring in 1988 after 40 years. He was a life member of VFW #249, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Valley of New Castle. Mr. Bowen was a World War II veteran in the 84^{th Field Artillery Battalion.}

Mr. Bowen is survived by his wife, Janet (Somerville) McCandless, whom he married on June 25, 1976; four sons: Ron Bowen and his wife, Carol, of Haymarket, Virginia; Randy Bowen and his wife, Laura, of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania; Jackie Bowen of Butler, and Mark McCandless and his wife, Carol, of Butler; three daughters: Patti Selfridge and her husband, Michael, of Butler; Joyce McCandless of Butler, Barbara Jansen and her husband, Al, of Alexandria, Virginia; ten grandchildren: Renee Peterson, Ryan Bowen, Megan Bowen, Derek Bowen, Holly Jansen, Sean Jensen, Stephen Selfridge, Sarah O'Donnell, Khristy McCandless and David McCandless; as well as eight great grandchildren: Kayla, Marcus, Zachary, Macy, Ava, Sydney, Cole and Kiley; and many nieces and nephews.

Mr. Bowen was preceded in death by his first wife, Opal (Catt) Bowen, who passed away in February 1975, and also by two sisters, Cora Mae Zorb, and Idellene Bowen; and one brother, Elmer Bowen.

Friends will be received at the Thompson-Miller Funeral Home, Inc., 124 East North Street, Butler, Pennsylvania on Thursday, October 29, 2009 from 1 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m.

Services will be held at Thompson-Miller Funeral Home, Inc. on Friday, October 30, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. with Pastor Kurt Knoebel of Thorn Creek United Methodist Church officiating and assisting will be Mary Lee Harmon, niece of Mr. Bowen. Interment will follow in Summit Presbyterian Church Cemetery.

Contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 300 Penn Center Boulevard, Suite 602, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15232.

Officers and members of Butler Lodge #272 F & A.M. will assemble at 6:45 p.m. Thursday, at the funeral home to conduct a Masonic Service.