Fredrick Marshall Bowen, 82, of Nitro, was escorted by angels into the presence of his Heavenly Father where his mind and body are once again whole on Friday, May 27, 2016. He is walking on streets of gold and loving on family and friends that made it there before him.

He was born March 12, 1934, in Dunbar, the son of the late Emmitt and Beulah Bowen. He graduated from Dunbar High School and stayed in contact with and met regularly with his high school friends and shared many memories and laughter with them. He attended WV State College.

Fred served as a radar operator in the United States Navy during the Korean War. He excelled and made 1st Class Petty Officer in less than four years. He worked in various plants as a pipefitter and job foreman out of Local 625. After his retirement he returned to the workforce at the Kanawha County Assessor's Office.

He was a long time member of the Nazarene Church. He has been a church board member, Sunday school teacher, and his favorite of all, a choir member. He loved work week at the Nazarene Campgrounds in Summersville, partly because he liked to work and mostly because he liked to cut up with the guys. When he became ill and could not make the distance to his home church, he attended the Cross Lanes Methodist Church.

He has mowed many lawns, shoveled many snowy driveways and offered many prayers for those fortunate enough to call him neighbor. He was always there to lend a helping hand to anyone that needed it. If you needed something done, chances are he knew how to do it. He loved delivering food baskets with the Cross Lanes Methodist Church. He donated 123 pints of blood to the Red Cross. He was a diehard WVU fan.

He was a strong man that had a work ethic to match. He built two of the homes he and his family lived in. He loved deeply. He was a tenderhearted caregiver that stayed with his father and his mother-in-law during long illnesses. He and Carol have carried many pans of fudge to family and friends when they were sick. You never went anywhere with him that he didn't know someone. If he loved you, he picked on you, that's just how it was. The apple of his eye for the last 14 years was his grand-daughter, Emily Grace. He was a giant among men.

He was married to the love of his life Carol Richardson for over 60 years. They raised four children, Robert Silman, Gary Silman (Rita), Debbie Silman Hill (Kent) and Nancy Bowen Shank (Michael). His grandchildren are Lisa Silman Gill (Darrin), Melanie Silman Glazier (Chip), Jeffrey Hughes (Karen), Laura Hill, Hollie Shank Eastin (Chris), Erin Shank Cremeans (Matt), and Emily Shank and six great grandchildren. He has one surviving sister, Barbara Ann and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his sons, Rick and Gary; five sisters and three brothers.

This is only a small glimpse of his blessed life. He has given us many precious memories to hold on to until we meet again. You were a good man Fred Bowen.

There will be a funeral service Thursday, June 2, 2016 at 11:00AM at Keller Funeral Home with Rev. Charles Williams and Rev. Dr. Gary Nelson officiating. Burial will follow at Spring Hill Cemetery, Charleston.

Friends and family may call Wednesday, June 1, 2016, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Keller Funeral Home.

Arrangements are in the care of Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar.