705 W. Warren Street | (812) 849-2600 |

Lester Wayne Bowden, Sr.Passing: February 12, 2021

Service:

Chastain Funeral Home

Funeral Service

Wednesday, February 17th @ 2:00 p.m.

Visitation:

Chastain Funeral Home

Wednesday, February 17th @ 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Cemetery:

Mitchell Cemetery

Wednesday, February 17th

MITCHELL – Lester Wayne Bowden, Sr., 79, passed away peacefully with family around him on Friday, February 12, 2021, at his home.

Born October 16, 1941, in Mitchell, he was the son of Bernard and Blanche (Batchelor) Bowden.    He married Shirley Caraway January 1, 1983.

Lester retired from General Motors with 30 years of service in 1993.  He was a bus driver for Bedford-North Lawrence High School with 17 years of service and retired in 2011 from Barr Reeve Community Schools as a bus driver and custodian with 17 years of service.  Lester was a member of the Orleans Church of the Nazarene and a 1961 graduate of Mitchell High School.

Surviving:
wife,
Shirley Bowden of Mitchell
children,
Ellen (Gene) Staggs of Bedford
Jason Bowden of Mitchell
step-daughters, whom he raised as his own,
Crystal (Mike) Miller of Mitchell
Christie (Chris) Steed of Piedmont, Oklahoma
14 grandchildren
  5 great grandchildren
sister,
Karen Miller of Phoenix, Arizona

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Lester Bowden, Jr.; granddaughter, Vanessa Benham; and siblings, Shirley Gross and Jerry Bowden.

He was loved by everyone he met.  He loved to be around family and friends and will truly be missed.  Lester put everyone before himself.  He truly loved going to church and would witness to everyone who would listen.  He said he wanted to see all of his family in heaven someday.

Funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 17, in the Memorial Chapel of Chastain Funeral Home & Cremation Center with Pastor Jerry Richardson officiating.  Burial will be in Mitchell Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 12:00 p.m. until the service on Wednesday at the funeral home.

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9 Guest Comments

  1. Guest: Roger Davis | Mitchell, Indiana
    Date: February 18, 2021
    Shirley, we are so sorry to hear about Lester. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
  2. Guest: Bill & Jan Sanders | Loogootee Indiana
    Date: February 16, 2021
    God Bless him and his family !!!
  3. Guest: Miranda Salyer | Orleans, Indiana
    Date: February 15, 2021
    I am so sorry for your loss. Wayne was such a kind person to my kids and I at church. I always enjoyed talking with him and he was so welcoming to my kids.
  4. Guest: Beth Sankey Stetler | PHARR, TX
    Date: February 15, 2021
    My deepest condolences to the family. Mr. Bowden was my bus driver for several years. We lived in the Englewood area of Bedford. He was a good man!
  5. Guest: Ramona Lennen | Washington IN
    Date: February 15, 2021
    Wayne was a Christian gentlemen. He was always willing to do whatever you asked of him. He had a smile & greeting for everyone.
  6. Guest: Brenda Mckain | brownstown, in
    Date: February 14, 2021
    All volunteers of Lawrence County Cancer Patient Services are so sorry for your loss.
  7. Guest: Rayna Morris | Choctaw, Oklahoma
    Date: February 14, 2021
    Dear family, we are so sorry for your loss and are praying for comfort over you all continuasly in this difficult time. Sincerely, Pampered Force & Team Legends!
  8. Guest: Carolyn Braman Riefe | Saginaw, MI
    Date: February 13, 2021
    Dear Shirley and Family, I'm so sorry for your loss.
  9. Guest: Cynthia Delaney Peters | Bedford In
    Date: February 13, 2021
    I am so sorry to hear of this news. I have known Lester most of my life. Always a gentleman. He will be missed by many. Condolences and prayers to Shirley and family.