Paul A. Bowen

Obituary of Paul Austin Bowen Longtime Moses Lake and Warden resident, Paul Bowen, passed away April 25, 2012 at the age of 94. Our father, grandfather, and friend will be missed immensely. Paul’s family will always remember his warm smile and big heart. Paul was born near Ririe, Idaho on October 11, 1917 to Casey and Ethel Bowen. Paul was the seventh of eight children born to them. Paul’s mother died when he was only five, which required him to grow up quickly and to work very hard as a boy and young man. At age ten, he and his twelve year old brother Jay would stay at and care for a remote dry farm east of Rexburg, Idaho all by themselves. Paul grew up during the Great Depression and unfortunately was forced to abandon college after only attending one year due to lack of funds. Paul went on to work full-time and found that he had a remarkable talent for operating and managing grocery stores. Paul met his sweetheart Barbara while working for Safeway in Idaho Falls. They married on July 4, 1942. Paul and Barbara first purchased their own store in Rigby, Idaho. After having their first child Bruce, they purchased and ran a store in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Business was good there, but the hours selling supplies to Yellowstone tourists were long. The last two of their three children, Dwight and Kevan were born in Jackson Hole. Paul and Barbara decided to leave the grocery business and follow Paul’s older brother Russ to settle sagebrush-covered land north of Warden in 1955. It was a dusty, desolate place before irrigation, but Paul was determined to carve out a homestead. Paul and his family spent time in Missoula, Montana during the early 1960’s where he managed an IGA grocery warehouse before coming back to Eastern Washington to farm. First they farmed in Basin City and finally in 1974 they moved for the last time and settled on a farm south of Moses Lake. Paul loved the outdoors and whenever he could break away from work, he would go fishing or hunting with his sons and grandsons. Paul could work harder than almost any man and would easily outwork men half his age. This amazing work ethic and a strong desire to succeed is what helped Paul live such a long and productive life. He has been a wonderful example for his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Paul was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and the great-grandson of a Mormon Pioneer that settled in Utah in 1849. Paul was preceded in death by his wife Barbara Mae Allred, his parents Casey Lavon Bowen and Ethel Louise Earl, his sisters Evalyn, Genevieve, Nyal, and Joy, his brothers Earl, Russ, and Jay and half-brother Gerwin. He is survived by his half-brother Grant, and half-sisters Glee and Lavon, sons Bruce (Leah) Moses Lake, Dwight (Kathy) Ritzville, and Kevan (Irene) Moses Lake, 16 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren. Services for Paul will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at 1849 Nelson Rd. N.E. on Monday April 30th at 10:00 A.M. with Bishop Brett Bergeson presiding. Interment at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Warden, Washington will follow. A viewing will precede the service starting at 9:00 A.M. at the church.

Paul A. Bowen

October 11, 1917 - April 25, 2012