James Lee (Jim) Bowen, Jr., 1944-2022

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James Lee (Jim) Bowen, Jr. passed away peacefully on March 5, 2022 with his loving family surrounding him. He was born on a very sandy morning April 22, 1944 to James Lee and Bessie Lee Bowen in Post, Garza County, Texas. He was the youngest of six children.

Jim graduated from Post High School in 1962 and entered the US Navy shortly thereafter. He spent two years aboard the guided missile cruiser USS Springfield and served in the Mediterranean Sea, the adjoining seas in Europe and the Caribbean. The Springfield visited 26 countries during Jim’s deployment.

While his ship was in Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York, he returned to Texas and married the love of his life, Golda Darlene Carson, on June 29, 1963. They spent four and one-half months together in Brooklyn before having to return to Europe for another nine months.

After discharge from the Navy in 1964, Jim returned to the Dallas area where he and Golda set up housekeeping. He went to work at Western Electric repairing telephones and attended Dallas Baptist College at night. After two years, he changed vocations and started his career in the title insurance business from which he retired in 2008.

Jim served on many boards and committees during his career including the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce, Dallas Preston North Lions Club, Dallas Homebuilders Association, Dallas Independent School District, Texas Land Title Association, Greater Dallas Association of Realtors and others.

Jim taught many Realtor seminars, title insurance training seminars and guest lectured at Southern Methodist University real estate department in Dallas. He started teaching Sunday school in Irving in 1966 and continued to teach in various Baptist churches as they moved around until his passing. 

In Quitman he was a substitute teacher and school bus driver for nine years, he worked as assistant administrator for Bluebonnet Hospice and drove a delivery truck for Blackwell Greenhouses.

He was ordained as deacon at Woodridge Baptist Church in 1966 and served as deacon for most of the churches of which he and Golda were members. His last place of service was Faith Baptist in Quitman; he served as deacon and taught an adult Sunday school class. Jim loved teaching Sunday school and ministering to the Faith Bible Study Class.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters Billie, June, Bonnie and Susie, and one brother, Carroll. Jim is survived by his wife, Golda; his two sons ,Tony and wife Vicki and Tracy and wife Katherine; his four grandchildren, Leah, Nicholas, Adam and Wesley; and many nieces and nephews.

Jim’s faith and life will be celebrated at a Memorial Service on Friday, March 11, 2022 at Faith Baptist Church, 405 S. Hart St., Quitman. The service will begin at 11 a.m., with Reverend Mike Midkiff officiating.  The family suggests, for those that desire, memorials be directed to Faith Baptist Church’s building fund.