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20BODYOFCHRISTNEWSJUNE2014JohnA.Bowen74wasbornJune251939totheunionofRev.JohnA.BowenSr.andVirgieLeeBoweninMemphisTennessee.HepassedawaypeacefullywithfamilyathissideonMarch232014.Amastermusi-cianandretiredteacherJohnservedwithnumerouschoirschurchesandcommunitygroupsthroughoutthecity.AsachildJohnlovedmusicespeciallyclassicalpiano.Attheageof15hebeganformalpianolessonsandupongraduationfromManassasHighSchoolinMemphishemovedtoChicagoIllinoiswherehebecameanappliedmusicstudentattheChicagoConservatory.In1963hemarriedhissoulmateAnnieLouiseMajor.Johnbecameveryinvolvedingospelmusicwhileworkingonhismusicedu-cationaldegreeatDePaulUniversity.Mr.BowenhasaBachelorofSciencedegreeinmusic.Heservedinthemilitaryfrom1961to1965fulfillinghismilitarydutiesasapianistandpercussionistintheU.S.A.Fband.HewasamemberoftheAmericanFederationofMusicians.MENCandanactivememberoftheGospelMusicWorkshopofAmerica.WhileinChicagohebecameastaffmusicianattheMountPisgahBaptistChurchandworkedwiththerenownedRobertaMartinsingersandcount-lessothergospelartists.In1978heproducedagospelalbumwiththeMt.PisgahBaptistchurchentitledPraiseGod.HewasalsoamusicteacherintheChicagopublicschoolsystemfrom1972-1980.HemovedtoColoradoSpringsinAugustof1980andwashiredbySchollDistrict11andbecamethemusicteacherandchoraldirectoratWassonHighSchool.AftertwentyyearsofservicewithDistrictElevenMr.Bowenretiredintheyearof2000.In1981hebecameministerofmusicattheTrinityBaptistchurchwhereheservedformorethantwentyyears.WhileresidinginColoradoSpringsJohnworkedwithahostofchurchandcommunitychoirandwellknownartist.HewastheleadMinisterofMusicfortheGMWAColoradoSpringsChapterchoirEmmanuelMissionaryBaptistMalechoirTrinityBaptistMalechorusVoicesofDavidjusttonameafew.ThroughouthiscareerMr.BowenwastherecipientofnumerousawardssuchasNationalAssociationofNegroMusiciansInc.NANMinJuly2010.MinisterofMusicoftheyear20012002bytheColoradoBaptistSouthernDistrict.TheverylastawardMr.BowenreceivedwastheCommunitydiver-sityAwardfromColoradoCollegeonJanuary202014.TheMaestroashewasaffectionatelyknownwaspre-cededindeathbyhisparentsJohnA.Sr.andVirgieLeeBowenbroth-ersHaroldL.BowenofLosAngelesCaliforniaCharlesE.BowenofGaryIndianaOnesisterBarbaraBowenofMemphisTennesseeandacloseAuntLuellaManuelsAuntieofMemphisTennessee.HeleavestocherishhismemoryhiswifeAnnieLouiseMajormar-riedforfiftyyears.ThreebrothersJerryBowenofHollywoodFloridaJamesMamieBowenofMemphisTennesseeandIsaacErnestineBowenofWhitehavenTennessee.ThreesistersHelenOZRogersofChicagoIllinoisJoyceMitchellofMiamiFloridaBrendaBowenofMiamiFloridaandahostofniec-esnephewsandfriends.Hewillbemissedbutneverforgotten.JohnBowenJr.TheMaestroJohnAlexanderBowenJr.June251939March232014OBITUARYIn1978heproducedagospelalbumwiththeMt.PisgahBaptistchurchentitledPraiseGod.HewasalsoamusicteacherintheChicagopublicschoolsystem.ThankYouDadThankyouforthelaughterForthegoodtimesthatweshareThanksforalwayslisteningFortryingtobefair.ThankyouforyourcomfortWhenthingsaregoingbadThankyoufortheshoulderTocryonwhenImsad.ThispoemsareminderthatAllmylifethroughIllbethankingheavenForaspecialdadlikeyou.AnonymousHappyFathersDaytoeveryFatherTodayisagooddaytoreachouttoyourFatherjusttosaythanksPMWynnGrove