Bill Reed Bowen

Bill Reed Bowen, 88, of Kingsport went to be with the Lord on Sunday, May 17, 2015. He was born June 26, 1926, in Duffield, VA and was a life-long area resident. Bill was a veteran of the Army Infantry in World War II, deployed to the South Pacific Theater in the Philippines. He retired from Eastman Kodak in 1987 after 34 years of service at both Holston Defense Corporation and Eastman's Textile Fibers Division, completing his career as a laboratory supervisor. After his retirement, Bill mastered a variety of hobbies, including basket weaving, furniture making, wood working, coin collecting, and quilt making. Bill also became an accomplished genealogical researcher and author, publishing two books on the Bowen and Fraley genealogies. Bill was known for being an extremely genuine and giving person with an enormous heart and was recognized for his love of gardening and working in his yard. Bill was a long time member of Temple Baptist Church in Kingsport, where he was active in the Adult Men's Sunday School Class and served as an usher and financial clerk. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Reece and Lakie (Fraley) Bowen, two sisters, and fourteen brothers. Bill is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Wilma Arwood Bowen of Kingsport, one son, Richard Bowen and wife Jamie of Huntsville, AL, three daughters, Rhonda White and husband Todd, Robin Wagner and husband Robert, and Rebecca Clark and husband Jonathan, all of Kingsport. He is also survived by the seven jewels of his life - grandchildren, Jessica Wisener and husband Aaron of Knoxville, TN, Daniel Bowen and wife Caitlin of Greenville, SC, William Wagner III and Rachel Maher of Charlotte, NC, Emily Wagner and fiancé Bryan Knight, Garret Clark, Alex White, and Bowen Wagner all of Kingsport, as well as one brother, Jack "Pete" Bowen of Duffield, VA, and forty-five nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, May 19, 2015, from 11AM to 1PM at Temple Baptist Church, 2200 Memorial Court, Kingsport. The funeral service will follow at 1PM at the church with Dr. Scott Young and Reverend Richard Harris officiating. Graveside services will follow the funeral at the Fraley family cemetery in Duffield, VA with American Legion Hammond Post #3 providing military honors. Bill's grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be several of Bill's close friends from church: Jerry Bacon, Jerry Duncan, Charles Hunley, Lynn Smith and Sam Yates. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Tennessee Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at www.lls.org/tennessee. The family would like to extend a special thanks to the Amedisys Hospice caregivers for the special care they gave to Bill in his last days. Carter-Trent Funeral Home, Kingsport is serving the family of Bill Reed Bowen.