William (Bill) Valentine Bowen

William (Bill) Valentine Bowen was 92 years old when he passed from this life on September 25, 2024.  He had been residing at The Porches in Gaylord, MI since February of this year.  Prior to that, he and his wife Jackie were long-time residents of Ithaca, MI.  She preceded him in death on January 7,2024.  He is survived by his two sons Craig Bowen (Wilsonville, OR) and Kent and Renata (Chaffee) Bowen (Gaylord, MI).  Bill had four grandchildren:  Kyle and Ashley (Bartee) Bowen (Plymouth,MI), Katie (Bowen) and Tony Bonitatibus (Waltham, MA), Corbin Bowen (Wilsonville, OR), Cailyn (Bowen) and Michael Nichols (Pasadena, MD) and five great-grandchildren:  Jackson, Olivia and Harrison Bowen, Hattie Bonitatibus and Hazel Nichols.

Bill was born in Utica, OH to Alwanda (Cannon) and Frank Bowen on March 11, 1932.  He moved to Ithaca, MI when he was nine years old and graduated from Ithaca High School in 1950.  Bill enlisted in the United States Navy when he was sixteen years old as a minority enlistment.  He entered active duty upon his high school graduation and served his country for five years.  He was stationed at Great Lakes Naval Station in Chicago, IL, then at Gross Ile Naval Station on the Detroit River where he served as an administrator for flight squadron training missions.

Bill loved to share the story with everyone about his reluctant blind date that was arranged by a family member in Butler, IN.  This was where he met Jackie, who was described to him as “the prettiest girl in town”.  They soon fell in love and married in 1954.  Shortly thereafter they moved from IN to Ithaca, MI where their marriage spanned nearly seventy years.  It was also there where they stayed and raised their family.

Bill wore many hats during his working career, most notably helping to operate a family-owned feed mill and large commercial chicken and hog farm.  Later, he was one of the first employees to work for Aircraft Precision in Ithaca before leaving to manage the North Star Elevator.  He finished his career working for B&W Co-Op in Breckenridge, MI.Bill and Jackie were active members at the First Presbyterian Church since 1955.  He also was a member of the local Masonic Lodge.  One of their favorite hobbies to do together was to hunt antiques and collectables they called “Junkin”.  The home they lived in for over five decades, that was built by Bill himself, was filled with these treasures.  Bill picked up the hobby of woodworking in the 1980’s, starting with small, simple projects that eventually turned into making fine furniture pieces.  He has made numerous items for many local residents, but the most special projects were the ones he made with love for his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

We invite you to come and share in a memorial service to a life well lived on Saturday October 12, 2024 at the First Presbyterian Church in Ithaca, with Pastor Steve Datema officiating.  A family visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. followed by the service at 11:00 a.m.  Please join us afterwords for a luncheon at the Ithaca Community Center.  The family kindly asks that any gifts be directed to the Ithaca Community Food Pantry in honor of Bill.

The family is being served by the Barden Funeral Home in Ithaca.  Condolences may be left for the family online at www.bardenfh.com.