Bonnie Tess Bowen December 22, 1942 - March 28, 2023

Well, I made it to age 80, can you believe it? What finally took me off this part of the big picture of life is congestive heart failure on March 28, 2023, in Provo, Utah surrounded by family. I still had a lot to get done, as usual, but that will now be left for others to take care of. Sorry about that.

I was born at Hughes Memorial Hospital in Spanish Fork, Utah on December 22, 1942. The first of six born to Earl L. Bowen and Tess Gammell Bowen. I attended the Rees School, Spanish Fork Junior High, and Spanish Fork High School and seminary, class of 1961. I then attended Brigham Young University for two years and lived at Wells Hall, apartment 154 and Heritage Halls, where I lived with many great roommates.

In September 1963, I joined the Women’s Army Corps and worked in Personnel with the new enlistees of the Women’s Army Corps (WAC). I loved my years at Fort McClellan, Alabama. I re-enlisted for three more years and after a few months, I was transferred to Fort Sill, Oklahoma to work in Personnel. I got out of the service in September 1969 and came back to Spanish Fork, Utah. First thing I did was call around to get into the Army National Guard and found out they didn’t take women in the Utah County Units. However, the Army Reserve did and they had an opening for me in a unit in Pleasant Grove, Utah. The unit had just returned from an activation to Vietnam. I joined the 259th Petroleum Battalion as their Personnel Staff. It was an E-7 position and I was an E-6 at the time. I spent the rest of my military career in the Pleasant Grove, Utah unit known as the 259th Quartermaster Petroleum Battalion for a total of 27 years active and reserve military service. I retired as a First Sergeant (ISG E-8). My unit was one of the first to be deactivated in 1992. I also worked full time Civil Service at the Reserve Unit in Pleasant Grove, Utah. I worked as Personnel Staff most of my military career.

After retiring, I volunteered at Mt. View Hospital in Payson, Utah for several years and was awarded Volunteer of the Quarter. I attended The Daughters of the Utah Pioneers for several years but never officially joined, why I don’t know.

I have had at least one dog for most of my adult life and have loved all eight of them. I hope to meet them again in heaven.

My world travels include going to South Korea twice with my Army Reserve Unit, Alaska on a cruise with my sisters, and Iceland with my friend Terry Schroyer and the Spanish Fork tour group. Iceland is a beautiful country which was the birthplace of my Grandma Bowen. Iceland Days was always fun and in 2014 Terry and I were honored at the festivities for being faithful to my roots.

I was preceded in death by my sister Afton Mary at 12 days old in 1944; one brother, Jack Earl at the age of 26 when he was tragically shot during the last day of the deer hunt in October 1978; my mother Tess at age 74 in 1995; and my father Earl at age 86 in 2002. My sisters I leave behind are Barbara (Lee) Jorgensen, Maxine (Greg) Christensen, and Marie (Kenny) Tanner. I also leave behind several nieces and nephews, many who helped me a lot.

A viewing will be held Monday, April 10 at 9:00 a.m. at the Walker Funeral Home in Spanish Fork. Following the viewing the funeral will begin at 10:00 a.m. Military rites and burial will take place at the Spanish Fork Cemetery immediately following the funeral.