BENTON — 1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, … 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. (Psalm 1:1a,2 NKJV) Charles Audren Bowen, Sr.

was born on May 12, 1936 in the Cherry Hill Community of Polk County, Arkansas. At birth, when he was laid aside for dead, his grandmother took him and worked with him using some home remedies until he took his first breath. Thus began a long life of a great man.

He was the son of Charles Clayton Bowen and Inez Marie Hoover Bowen, both of Mena, Arkansas. The family lived in Polk County, then moved to Arkadelphia where his father completed his degree from Ouachita Baptist University. His father moved the family to California where he started many churches as a Southern Baptist Home Missionary. Charles graduated from Riverside Polytechnic High School.

Charles came to know the Lord, Jesus Christ as his savior as a young boy and faithfully served Him in a number of churches throughout his long life. He earned a Bachelor’s degree from Ouachita Baptist University. He met Patricia McClellan at Ouachita, and they were married on August 2, 1958 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.

Charles and Patricia lived in Benton, Arkansas one year while Charles taught science an Benton High School. He then served his country in the U.S. Army. His life-long hobby was photography and he enjoyed access to all the photographic equipment he could desire as a Lieutenant in the 65th Battalion of the U.S. Army Signal Corps. Their first child, a son Charles Bowen, Jr., was born while Charles was stationed at Ft. Meade, Maryland.

Following the army years, the family lived in Minden, Louisiana, where Charles worked for a short time at an ordinance plant and then worked as a mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service. Their two daughters, Elizabeth Marie Bowen and Rhonda Patricia Bowen were born in Minden during this time. Then the family moved to Houston,Texas, where Charles worked at NASA as a programmer during the Gemini and Apollo space programs. Later Charles worked as a programmer for TRW, Inc. then moved to Pine Bluff, Arkansas as a programmer for the distribution of electricity for Entergy Arkansas. Their fourth child, a son Jeremy McClellan Bowen, was born in Pine Bluff.

Charles was ordained as a deacon at South Side Baptist Church in Pine Bluff and later served as Chairman of Deacons at Life Line Baptist Church. He also served the Lord faithfully as a Sunday School teacher, sound engineer, and computer consultant in several churches. He was always a loyal supporter of his pastor, and was willing to serve in any place he was needed. He was a life-long Bible student who enjoyed studying the Bible. During his later years, he wrote lesson plans for Sunday School teachers in his church and others who asked for them.

In 1982 his job with Entergy changed locations to Little Rock, where he worked until his retirement.

In 2013, their daughter, Rhonda Patricia Bowen Lee, was diagnosed with cancer, and lost her life in August of 2016. This was a time of great sadness for Charles and the family.

He leaves behind his wife, Patricia, three children, Charles Bowen, Jr. (Holly), Elizabeth Marie Bowen Jackson, Jeremy Bowen (Lisa), son-in-law Terry Lee, seventeen grandchildren, and seventeen great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.