October 16, 1941 – February 12, 2021
Lester Wayne Bowden, Sr., 79, of Mitchell, passed away peacefully with family around him on Friday, February 12, 2021, at his home.
Born October 16, 1941, in Mitchell, he was the son of Bernard and Blanche (Batchelor) Bowden. He married Shirley Caraway January 1, 1983.
Lester retired from General Motors with 30 years of service in 1993. He was a bus driver for Bedford-North Lawrence High School with 17 years of service and retired in 2011 from Barr Reeve Community Schools as a bus driver and custodian with 17 years of service. Lester was a member of the Orleans Church of the Nazarene and a 1961 graduate of Mitchell High School.
Survivors include his wife, Shirley Bowden of Mitchell; children, Ellen (Gene) Staggs of Bedford, Jason Bowden of Mitchell; step-daughters, whom he raised as his own, Crystal (Mike) Miller of Mitchell, Christie (Chris) Steed of Piedmont, Oklahoma; 14 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; sister, Karen Miller of Phoenix, Arizona
He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Lester Bowden, Jr.; granddaughter, Vanessa Benham; and siblings, Shirley Gross and Jerry Bowden.
He was loved by everyone he met. He loved to be around family and friends and will truly be missed. Lester put everyone before himself. He truly loved going to church and would witness to everyone who would listen. He said he wanted to see all of his family in heaven someday.
The funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 17, in the Memorial Chapel of Chastain Funeral Home & Cremation Center with Pastor Jerry Richardson officiating. Burial will be in Mitchell Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 12:00 p.m. until the service on Wednesday at the funeral home.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.chastainfuneralhome.com
