Dr. Samuel Reid Bowen, Jr., 84, of Tifton passed away Thursday, February 5, 2004, at his residence. His funeral service was held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, February 8, 2004, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals with the Rev. Kenneth Smith and the Rev. Judy White officiating. Dr. Bowen was laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Simmy McKeown Jr., Gary Flanders, Tommy Johnson, Chad Draper, Al Potts, Henry Overton, Donnie Rice and Lee Browne served as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were Jim Willkomm, Wayne Mullis, Robert Giddens, Bob Rutherford, Jerry Surles, Simmy Mc McKeown Sr., and Wallace Greer.
Born December 3, 919, in Tift County, Dr. Bowen was the son of the late Samuel Reid Bowen, Sr. and Mary Thaxton Bowen. Dr. Bowen was a 1943 graduate of Auburn University with a degree in Animal Science. He was an honorary member of the American Veterinary Medical Association; and he was a life member of the B.P.O.E. as one of the first members, being number 86. Before retiring, he was a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine; and he was a member of Mount Calvary Methodist Church in Tifton.
Dr. Bowen is survived by his wife, Sarah Deene Cravey Bowen of Tifton; one son, Charles Bowen of Newnan; one daughter, Beverly Merritt of Fitzgerald; one sister, Betty Sweet of Colorado Springs, Colorado; three grandchildren, Jacklyn Merritt, Brent Merritt and Jody Merritt; one step-daughter and her husband, Suzi and Gary Flanders; three step-grandchildren, Donnie Rice and Simmy McKeown Jr., both of Tifton and Amy Draper of Omaha, Nebraska; and five step great-grandchildren, Ery and Katie Draper of Omaha, Nebraska and Tyler, Caleb and Autumn Rice of Tifton.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Tift Regional Medical Center Cardiac Unit at 901 East 18th Street, Tifton, GA 31794 in his memory.