WAKEFIELD, VA
Elbert Richard Bowden, 82, peacefully passed away on Saturday, June 21, 2008, at his home in Wakefield. Born Aug. 26, 1925 in Zuni, he was the son of the late Solomon Richard and Grace Pittman Bowden. Mr. Bowden was a retired truck driver.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Charlotte Freeman Bowden; his daughter, Deborah B. Bartley and her husband, Robert of Wakefield; four sons, Richard F. Bowden, Walter "Dallas" Bowden and his wife, Sandy, and Robert P. Bowden, all of Wakefield, and David L. Bowden and Tracy Dorman of Chesapeake; a brother, Andrew A. Bowden and his wife, Kay of Smithfield; a sister-in-law, Mary Bowden of Windsor; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Virginia Wuska and Alice Sheffield; and two brothers, Harold Dean Bowden and Daniel Bowden.
Mr. Bowden served in the U.S. Navy during World War II in the European Theatre. He was a member of the Virginia Tractor Pullers' Association, Wakefield Sportsmen's Club, and Bent Barrel Hunt Club and was a past member of Tucker Swamp Hunt Club.
A graveside service with military rites will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, June 23, 2008, in Wakefield Cemetery with the Rev. Jim Kerr officiating. The family will receive friends at the residence.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Wakefield Volunteer Fire Department, 155 Fleetwood Ave., Wakefield, VA 23888 or the Waverly Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 318, Waverly, VA 23890.
Uncle Elbert or as Grace affectionately called him "Uncle Baldy" was married 60 years. He served in WWII and was on one of the boats that stormed Normandy Beach. He also was on a boat that was on Omaha beach. He also served his country at Pearl Harbor but he wasn't there on December 7th. I knew he was in the Navy during WWII but thought he was in the Pacific theatre. I found out the information about Normandy from Grace, who got it from her grandfather, while they were watching Saving Private Ryan. Margie told me about Pearl Harbor and Omaha beach.
Please be in much prayer for my uncle's family, especially Aunt Charlotte.
Also pray for my uncle Andy, he is the only surviving child of 9 children. He is not very healthy after having a heart attack and 2 strokes and he didn't take this well. He is a Christian but there is still an emptiness that only God can heal in His time.
Also, pray for the family of Graham Smith, who is my cousin Margie's cousin's husband. He die the same day as my uncle's funeral. In fact, he was in his garden picking vegetables before he got ready to go to my uncle's service.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
Happy Father's Day!
Yesterday was kind of a hard day for me. You see, my daddy went to heaven 2 years ago. I have to tell a cute story. Since daddy died, I haven't changed our voice mail. Just personal reasons that are not my main focus of my post today. My Aunt Sandy (mom's sister) calls and if she gets the answering machine, she always says Dan how are you tell Missy I called and see in Heaven, when I get there. Well, yesterday when she called, she said Happy Father's Day in Heaven, Dan. I thought that was so sweet.
So, instead of feeling sorry for myself, I got to thinking about the men that are in my life. Thanks for all you do.
First of all my other "daddy": the one I yearn to be closer to. The one I take advantage of every day but need to get to know better than I do. The one that spoke the earth into existence, the one who lets me live in HIS word. And the one who the world is trying soo hard to get rid of - in every one's mind, neighborhoods, schools, courts and country.
God.
Everyone takes HIM for granted everyday. We wake up, do our morning routine and go to work (yes, sah mom's work too). Maybe part of our routine is to read the Bible and pray but do we always take the time to read the Bible like we should - reading and meditating or do we read the required verses in our daily devotion book, think about them for a minute and then go back to our hectic lives ? Do we always take the time to pray like we should - weeping and crying over the lost - including our country? Remember, we are not too busy or God can give us all the time in the world to be able to get closer to HIM? He gave us the sun, moon and stars, he can give us more time.
I have so much more to say about this and wished the words would just come out of my fingertips to type them.
I am thankful to God for everything He has given me. My daughter, Grace. She is my sunshine and has been my whole life for the past 21 years. I can't believe that she is all grown up. In more ways than one (meaning maturity). I am thankful that she said about 10 years ago can we go to that church where Cara goes and does crafts with Miss Ebbie? We went and haven't left. Everyone knows that it was supposed to be to make Grace be quiet and leave me alone about church.
I am thankful for my other father figure, my pastor. My pastor and my daddy are about the same age (June to October difference) as well as my mother and My pastor's wife (mom is from December to February older). So I look at them as my 2nd parents as my mom is 2 hrs away. They have been such a help in the past 2 yrs they will never know. Anyway, shouldn't a pastor be like a father figure to his congregation no matter what their age. He (as far as I am concerned) is upholding his job, given to him by God, well. Thank you Pastor.
Now, to all my other male friends who are fathers:
I have to start with Brother Gay Chesser. Julee (his wife is one of my best friends). They are both good Christian people to talk with and each time we all get a chance to talk they are such a blessing to me. Brother Gay's brother, Marshall just had a kidney removed and what a surprise! God performed another miracle. He was home within 3 days of the operation when the surgeon's said that there was a chance with his health problems that he may not make it. What a testimony! There was such a sweet spirit when he told us this yesterday morning in church.
I have to add Brother Ron Worley to this too. God has performed a miracle in his life also. He was dying and waiting for a liver and he got to help Grace paint her room Saturday. Well, he actually told her to get out of the room or he would paint her. He was nice about it when he said it. He saved about 3 hrs of time and struggle and it looks great!. Still have some extra touches that Grace needs to do but when it is done, I will post pictures.
Brother David Dean. What a great person he is. His wife Vera has had several rounds of chemotherapy and he has high blood pressure but he still loads up his van with grandchildren and they come to church. Usually he has about 6 of the 12 with him. He spent countless hours helping to fix our air conditioner at church and when he is honored for his time and work he says that it is the Lord who gets all the credit.
All of my uncles... Elbert, Andy, Leo and John Paul. I don't know Elbert and Andy too well. They are my dad's brothers. They are older and live in VA. We didn't live there after I was 13 yrs old, so I didn't see them as often as I should but they always are ready to see me with open arms. Elbert is now in a nursing home and may have lung cancer (they are waiting on the test results). He and my Aunt Charlotte will be married 60 years in July. He was a truck driver and kind of rough around the edges but he raised 4 boys and a girl that have children and grandchildren of their own. Andy has 2 children and 4 grandchildren of his own. 2 step daughters and they have children of their own. Uncle Andy was married 2 times before he found the right lady, Kay. They were married 27 years ago.
Leo has been married to my Aunt Sandy for over 20 yrs. Leo is 82 yrs old but acts like he is 1/2 his age. I really like to be around him. He has good advice and you can see how much he loves Sandra (her real name). You can see him read his Bible devotion everyday (he uses Our Daily Bread). He doesn't do anything until that gets done. I have gotten to know them so much better in the last 10 years.
John Paul is my mother's brother. I didn't know him that well, because we moved when I was 13. I remember as a child before he and his wife Sonia had children they used to take me to see Disney on Ice. I enjoyed going every year for my birthday. I was the flower girl in their wedding, but I don't remember any of it. Yes, I have been in a wedding before in my life. But only this one. I went to VA during Thanksgiving when I was in college and stayed at their house. I babysat for their 2 children and got paid. He has 4 grandchildren. He owns his own pest control company and used to be in the brochure for Busch Gardens Williamsburg. One of his main contracts was Busch Gardens. Now, his daughter runs the family business in VA and his son has a business in CO. He and his wife have been married around 40 yrs. Oops! I told my age again.
There are so many more people that deserve to be honored, especially the men of our church, I did thank God for all not mentioned yesterday.
Everyone have a great time.
Until I post again.
So, instead of feeling sorry for myself, I got to thinking about the men that are in my life. Thanks for all you do.
First of all my other "daddy": the one I yearn to be closer to. The one I take advantage of every day but need to get to know better than I do. The one that spoke the earth into existence, the one who lets me live in HIS word. And the one who the world is trying soo hard to get rid of - in every one's mind, neighborhoods, schools, courts and country.
God.
Everyone takes HIM for granted everyday. We wake up, do our morning routine and go to work (yes, sah mom's work too). Maybe part of our routine is to read the Bible and pray but do we always take the time to read the Bible like we should - reading and meditating or do we read the required verses in our daily devotion book, think about them for a minute and then go back to our hectic lives ? Do we always take the time to pray like we should - weeping and crying over the lost - including our country? Remember, we are not too busy or God can give us all the time in the world to be able to get closer to HIM? He gave us the sun, moon and stars, he can give us more time.
I have so much more to say about this and wished the words would just come out of my fingertips to type them.
I am thankful to God for everything He has given me. My daughter, Grace. She is my sunshine and has been my whole life for the past 21 years. I can't believe that she is all grown up. In more ways than one (meaning maturity). I am thankful that she said about 10 years ago can we go to that church where Cara goes and does crafts with Miss Ebbie? We went and haven't left. Everyone knows that it was supposed to be to make Grace be quiet and leave me alone about church.
I am thankful for my other father figure, my pastor. My pastor and my daddy are about the same age (June to October difference) as well as my mother and My pastor's wife (mom is from December to February older). So I look at them as my 2nd parents as my mom is 2 hrs away. They have been such a help in the past 2 yrs they will never know. Anyway, shouldn't a pastor be like a father figure to his congregation no matter what their age. He (as far as I am concerned) is upholding his job, given to him by God, well. Thank you Pastor.
Now, to all my other male friends who are fathers:
I have to start with Brother Gay Chesser. Julee (his wife is one of my best friends). They are both good Christian people to talk with and each time we all get a chance to talk they are such a blessing to me. Brother Gay's brother, Marshall just had a kidney removed and what a surprise! God performed another miracle. He was home within 3 days of the operation when the surgeon's said that there was a chance with his health problems that he may not make it. What a testimony! There was such a sweet spirit when he told us this yesterday morning in church.
I have to add Brother Ron Worley to this too. God has performed a miracle in his life also. He was dying and waiting for a liver and he got to help Grace paint her room Saturday. Well, he actually told her to get out of the room or he would paint her. He was nice about it when he said it. He saved about 3 hrs of time and struggle and it looks great!. Still have some extra touches that Grace needs to do but when it is done, I will post pictures.
Brother David Dean. What a great person he is. His wife Vera has had several rounds of chemotherapy and he has high blood pressure but he still loads up his van with grandchildren and they come to church. Usually he has about 6 of the 12 with him. He spent countless hours helping to fix our air conditioner at church and when he is honored for his time and work he says that it is the Lord who gets all the credit.
All of my uncles... Elbert, Andy, Leo and John Paul. I don't know Elbert and Andy too well. They are my dad's brothers. They are older and live in VA. We didn't live there after I was 13 yrs old, so I didn't see them as often as I should but they always are ready to see me with open arms. Elbert is now in a nursing home and may have lung cancer (they are waiting on the test results). He and my Aunt Charlotte will be married 60 years in July. He was a truck driver and kind of rough around the edges but he raised 4 boys and a girl that have children and grandchildren of their own. Andy has 2 children and 4 grandchildren of his own. 2 step daughters and they have children of their own. Uncle Andy was married 2 times before he found the right lady, Kay. They were married 27 years ago.
Leo has been married to my Aunt Sandy for over 20 yrs. Leo is 82 yrs old but acts like he is 1/2 his age. I really like to be around him. He has good advice and you can see how much he loves Sandra (her real name). You can see him read his Bible devotion everyday (he uses Our Daily Bread). He doesn't do anything until that gets done. I have gotten to know them so much better in the last 10 years.
John Paul is my mother's brother. I didn't know him that well, because we moved when I was 13. I remember as a child before he and his wife Sonia had children they used to take me to see Disney on Ice. I enjoyed going every year for my birthday. I was the flower girl in their wedding, but I don't remember any of it. Yes, I have been in a wedding before in my life. But only this one. I went to VA during Thanksgiving when I was in college and stayed at their house. I babysat for their 2 children and got paid. He has 4 grandchildren. He owns his own pest control company and used to be in the brochure for Busch Gardens Williamsburg. One of his main contracts was Busch Gardens. Now, his daughter runs the family business in VA and his son has a business in CO. He and his wife have been married around 40 yrs. Oops! I told my age again.
There are so many more people that deserve to be honored, especially the men of our church, I did thank God for all not mentioned yesterday.
Everyone have a great time.
Until I post again.
Friday, June 13, 2008
I am alive!
I know I haven't blogged in like forever.. Everyone who reads my blog either will probably block me from reading theirs or keep sending comments on other blogs to post. Well... this is the hectic life I lead.
I am still working from home. They decided to make our jobs (what they say) easier by auditing us. Problem is... the audits don't know how to do our jobs and they are only going by an antiqued piece of paper that was prohibited (by former supervisors) to use. We have had 4 "training sessions" to learn how to do this. The training goes like this: ok, print the info you were given and here look at it on the computer while I go over it (trainer just reads it). Then, we stop to ask questions the reply is "We'll have to get back to you with that." My hair is literally falling out. I want to do the job to the best of my ability but don't know how to do it anymore because they don't know how to tell us how. Confused? I surely am. Then in the mix we are going to be able to do the whole job instead of the minute portion we do now. More money? Don't know but there is a blessing in that. I am truly blessed to be able to work from home in my pjs. Right now, the overtime is minimal but that is OK. I am not spending extra money to go to the gas station and that is a raise in itself and once I learn the new part of the job (those trainers know the job) I can more opportunities for overtime. 'Nuf about work.
Spanky turned 2 years old, yesterday. It seems like yesterday he was just a pup. To celebrate we had steak for dinner and he got just a little piece. I bought him a new pin monkey stuffed animal. He played with it and when he got tired he put it on the couch next to him and fell asleep. Will be sending pictures soon.
Still going to school, taking American government and politics. Classes end on 6/24/08. It is very interesting to be the only person who knew that Nixon wasn't impeached (he resigned, for all you young ones out there) that Bill Clinton was. And to believe that the best candidate for our country (at this time) is John McCain. Just hope his speeches don't get him in trouble. You know how the press is, they will turn everything around to be either for or against you. I just hope that the media has already "hand-picked" the right man.
Grace will be painting her Sunday School class today and tomorrow. She wants to brighten up the classroom. She got advice from Ron Worley (paint expert) and it should be interesting as she doesn't need my help. My! has she grown up and has it been hard to let go.
Pray for my dad's brother Elbert and his family. He has pneumonia that hasn't cleared up with antibiotics and my aunt Charlotte thinks it is something worse - like lung cancer. The doctors are having tests run and I haven't gotten the results. He is 82 years old and a smoker. He's not eating and has oxygen on 100% of the time.
Let's see we have discussed my current events and politics, so I need to go back to work. Hopefully, I can post a little more often.
And by the way,
Congratulations Josh and Naomy!
I am still working from home. They decided to make our jobs (what they say) easier by auditing us. Problem is... the audits don't know how to do our jobs and they are only going by an antiqued piece of paper that was prohibited (by former supervisors) to use. We have had 4 "training sessions" to learn how to do this. The training goes like this: ok, print the info you were given and here look at it on the computer while I go over it (trainer just reads it). Then, we stop to ask questions the reply is "We'll have to get back to you with that." My hair is literally falling out. I want to do the job to the best of my ability but don't know how to do it anymore because they don't know how to tell us how. Confused? I surely am. Then in the mix we are going to be able to do the whole job instead of the minute portion we do now. More money? Don't know but there is a blessing in that. I am truly blessed to be able to work from home in my pjs. Right now, the overtime is minimal but that is OK. I am not spending extra money to go to the gas station and that is a raise in itself and once I learn the new part of the job (those trainers know the job) I can more opportunities for overtime. 'Nuf about work.
Spanky turned 2 years old, yesterday. It seems like yesterday he was just a pup. To celebrate we had steak for dinner and he got just a little piece. I bought him a new pin monkey stuffed animal. He played with it and when he got tired he put it on the couch next to him and fell asleep. Will be sending pictures soon.
Still going to school, taking American government and politics. Classes end on 6/24/08. It is very interesting to be the only person who knew that Nixon wasn't impeached (he resigned, for all you young ones out there) that Bill Clinton was. And to believe that the best candidate for our country (at this time) is John McCain. Just hope his speeches don't get him in trouble. You know how the press is, they will turn everything around to be either for or against you. I just hope that the media has already "hand-picked" the right man.
Grace will be painting her Sunday School class today and tomorrow. She wants to brighten up the classroom. She got advice from Ron Worley (paint expert) and it should be interesting as she doesn't need my help. My! has she grown up and has it been hard to let go.
Pray for my dad's brother Elbert and his family. He has pneumonia that hasn't cleared up with antibiotics and my aunt Charlotte thinks it is something worse - like lung cancer. The doctors are having tests run and I haven't gotten the results. He is 82 years old and a smoker. He's not eating and has oxygen on 100% of the time.
Let's see we have discussed my current events and politics, so I need to go back to work. Hopefully, I can post a little more often.
And by the way,
Congratulations Josh and Naomy!
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