Lenval "Blackie" Bowen
(August 24, 1924 - November 1, 2009)

Mr. Marco Lenval "Blackie" Bowen, 85, of Huntington, WV, husband of Marian L. Denning Bowen, passed away at his residence on Sunday, November 1, 2009. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 PM Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at Chapman's Mortuary, with The Reverend Cinda Harkless officiating. Ernie Ritchie will provide vocal music. Burial will be in Woodmere Memorial Park, Huntington. He was born August 24, 1924 in Huntington, WV, a son of the late Rev. Homer and Florence Delma Gilbert Bowen. He had many interests, including Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church, singing, the Cincinnati Reds, Marshall Basketball and Football, square dancing and square dance calling. He was a graduate of Huntington High School, a veteran, serving with the US Army during WW II, where he received the WW II Victory Medal and was a WW II Honoree. He retired from the Huntington Publishing Company as the assistant Controller, following '45 years, 9 months, and 8 days'. He began his newspaper career selling papers on the streets of Huntington. He was a member of the Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church, the Paw-Taw square dancing club, American Legion, a Kentucky Colonel and after completing the Dale Carnagie Course, became an assistant course instructor, working with Woody Williams. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers and sisters, Homer Bowen, Jr, Lowry Bowen, Glen Bowen, Lake Bowen, Vivian Defoe, Irlena Thompson, and Mica Bowen. Surviving in addition to his wife, are daughters Kathy Christian DeWitt and husband Keith, Alice and husband Jerry Browning, all of Huntington, and son Edwin Bowen and wife Jan of Versailles, KY; grandchildren, Bobby Joe Christian II and wife Cathalene, Eric Christian, Amy Browning, Ginny and Bradley Morgan, Tiffany Bowen, and Jacob Bowen; great grandchildren, Trevor Christian and awaiting the birth of "baby" Morgan; brothers and sisters, Loren Bowen, Billy Bowen, Lois Harris, and Delma Handloser, and a host of nieces, nephews, and special friends. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. C. Dewayne Tackett, Michael D. Adkins, Jr., PAC, and Dr. James H. Morgan, III. Pallbearers will be, Jacob Bowen, Keith DeWitt, Bobby Joe Christian, II, Edwin Bowen, Jerry Browning, and Bradley Morgan. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the American Cancer Society, or the Jeffrey George Comfort House. Friends may call at Chapman's Mortuary from 5:30 pm until 8:30 pm Tuesday November 3, 2009.