Bowden, Elbert Richard

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.