Obituary of Dr. Orval Lee Bowen

Dr. Orval Lee Bowen

1935-2021

Orval Lee Bowen was born in 1935 to Margaret Rogers Bowen and H. Leland Bowen in Bowens, Maryland. He spent time in Baltimore as a child but soon returned to Prince Frederick, Maryland. He graduated from Calvert County High School and went to Western Maryland College on a Senatorial Scholarship. In 1957 he received his BA degree.

Dr. Bowen entered the US Army as an officer and completed airborne training. He was the company commander of the 121st army engineers. He also served eight years in the National Guard.

Later Dr. Bowen spent 33 years in public school education as a teacher and administrator. He also served as an adjunct professor at several universities. He received his M.Ed. and PhD from George Washington University. He was a proponent of career/vocational education and is published in that field. His care and direction of students and young adults and their ability to enter the work force was always his mission.

Of all his achievements, he was most proud of his four children, Tracy, Ronni, Edie and Eric and their professional accomplishments. His four grandchildren, Diana, Nicole, Sydney, and Basil were also a source of much pride and happiness.

He and his wife retired to Heathsville, Virginia where he served eight years on the school board. Then, off to Sun City Hilton Head, South Carolina, where his last 15 years were spent playing golf, traveling and volunteering with mentally challenged adults and their need for employment.

Dr. Bowen is survived by the love of his life, his partner and wife of many wonderful years, Theresa Organt Bowen. He is also survived by his children and grandchildren. He donated his body to the Medicinal School of University of South Carolina. His remains will be interred in the Bowen Family burial site at the Asbury Methodist Cemetery, Barstow, MD.

Dr. Bowen encouraged his friends and family to be organ donors. If you wish to acknowledge the life of Orval Lee Bowen, please donate to your favorite youth organization in his name.