January 22, 2012

Funeral for Wesley Bowen, 81, of Abbeville, Ga., was Tues., Jan. 24, in the Abbeville United Methodist Church. Burial was in Stubbs Cemetery.

Mr. Bowen, formerly of Hartselle, died Sun., Jan. 22, 2012, in Pineview Health Care Center. He was born Dec. 14, 1930 in Hartselle to Wallace Clayton Bowen and Louise Johnson Bowen. After the death of Louise, Dec. 18, 1930, Wallace married Evelyn Mays Bowen when Wesley was 4 1/2 years old and she raised him as her own.

He was preceded in death by all of his parents and a brother, Billy Joe Bowen, in 2011. He was a faithful member of Abbeville United Methodist Church and served his country with honor in the U.S. Army during the Korean War as a member of the 1st Calvary Division. He worked for many years at V. J. Elmore stores in Hartselle and Decatur. After leaving Elmore’s, he was manager of W.T. Grant until it closed. He was owner/operator of Smith’s Department Store in Abbeville from 1976 to 1991.

He is survived by his wife, Patsy Bowen of Abbeville; a sister, Gean Haddock and husband Ray of Florence; and several nephews and nieces.

Frazier & Son Funeral Home in Rochelle, Ga., was in charge of arrangements.