Warren Wayne Bowlin

Warren Wayne Bowlin ‘Pops’ passed away July 7, 2015 in McMinnville surrounded by his family. His heart and body gave way one month and two days shy of his 76th birthday. Warren was born August 9, 1939 to Paul and Esther Bowlin in Cadams, Nebraska. He was the oldest of eight children. They moved to Tivy Valley, California soon after his birth and remained there until 1955 when the family moved to Newberg, Oregon. In 1957 Warren joined the Marines at age 17 and was stationed in Japan. Upon his discharge he moved to Sanger, California and worked for the County. He met and married Karen Larsen in 1960 and they soon moved back to Oregon to be near his family. They raised three children together. Warren worked with his father building bridges in Portland in his early career. They later started their own concrete business. Warren built residential foundations for over 40 years locally except for six years in Everett, Washington and two years in Vacaville, California. In 1989 they moved back to McMinnville and he and his son Curtis continued to work as self-employed concrete contractors. Warren took great pride in his workmanship and passed that trait on to all three of his children. Warren was an avid fisherman and spent many days on the river and lakes catching bass, salmon and sturgeon with his brothers, grandsons and nephews. He enjoyed canning and smoking his fish to share with his family and friends. Warren also enjoyed playing the ponies and playing craps. He was blessed to have been able to take several trips in the last few years with his daughter Tami to Santa Anita, Hollywood Park, Los Alamitos and Del Mar race tracks in Southern California. In his later years he found great joy in gardening and working in his beautiful yard and passed that joy and skill onto his daughter Tracey. Warren’s greatest love was his family. He came from a large family so family was always near. He was rich with love and passed that onto his family. He was ornery to the end and will be forever loved and remembered and deeply missed. He was preceded in death by his parents Paul & Esther and brother Jay. He is survived by his wife of almost 55 years, Karen; three children and spouses; Curtis & Dawnette Bowlin of Dayton, Tracey & Dwayne Wall of Dundee and Tami Dunn of McMinnville. Grandchildren; Nichole & Alex Bergstrom, Dan and Alexandria Bowlin, Caitlin Bowlin, Harley Bowlin, Chance Bowlin, Patrick Wall, Kevin & Laura Wall, Hailey Dunn and Hayden Dunn. Great grandchildren; Lilly, Mason and Warren Bowlin. Siblings; Pauline Fettig of Dundee, David & Stephanie Bowlin of Dayton, Monte Bowlin of Newberg, Barb Symolon of Amity, Cheryl & Ron Symolon and Debbie & Marty Fox of Dundee. Childhood friend, Bill ‘Willard’ McHaley, of Sanger, California and many nieces and nephews. A celebration of Warren’s life will be held Sunday, July 19th at 11:00 am at his brother David’s home in Dayton. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Heart Association. To leave private online condolences, please visit autumncares.com.