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Submitted: 2/6/23 • Approved: 2/7/23 • Last Updated: 2/10/23 • R1470213-G0-S3
SERGEANT US Air Force
Vietnam
June 8, 1947 - March 20, 2022
*Obituary
Marvin Dale Bowen was born June 8, 1947 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas to Margaret Jo and Elbert Dale Bowen, and departed this life on March 20, 2022 after a long and hard-fought battle with cancer.
He was raised the son of a Missionary Baptist minister in Humphrey, Arkansas and spent many years harmonizing with his sisters in youth rallies and choirs at church. Like all his Bowen kin, he was musically gifted, and he sang with a beautiful tenor voice. He played the guitar, mandolin, and piano, and could pick out a tune on most any instrument. He was a lover of gospel music, but also loved to tell of singing and playing with his family at reunions as a young man.
He enlisted in the Air Force during Vietnam, and served as an Air Traffic Controller in Texarkana, Arkansas, and Gunter Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, serving his country before receiving an honorable discharge as a Sergeant in December 1969.
After earning his undergraduate degree from UALR, Dale began his professional career as a Lab Tech at Arkansas Children's Hospital in the early 80's, eventually moving across the country to work as a respected Hospital Administrator for Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, Iowa. Throughout his many years in the medical field, he served as a trusted mentor and made many friends whom he treasured like family.
In recent years, he retired to Conway, Arkansas to be closer to family, where he enjoyed many raucous holidays with his children and grandchildren; attending football games, plays, concerts, and school functions with great pride. He loved telling stories about growing up in the small farming community of Humphrey, Arkansas, and could "talk a blue streak" about most any subject. Dale was a beloved father, grandfather, son, husband and brother who cherished family above all else and was never happier than when surrounded by his sprawling clan.
He was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by three children, Marley Washum (Joe), Rachael, and Matthew, all of Conway; wife Rebecca; his grandsons Joseph, Ian, Gabriel, and William Washum of Conway; and sisters Janet Hendrix of Stuttgart and Pam Fortune of Humphrey.
His family would like to extend our sincerest thanks to the many doctors, nurses, and caregivers who walked this journey with him in recent months, especially the staff of Conway Regional SSOU Unit; Conway Regional Multispeciality Clinic; and Hospice Home Care of Conway.
Graveside services will be held at Crestlawn Memorial Park on Thursday, March 24th at 1:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Conway Regional Hospital (conwayregional.org) or Hospice Home Care of Conway.
Contributed on 2/6/23 by hawkinsdonna48
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Record #: 1470213