Obituary for
Wayne "Tom" Bowden
submitted by Shirley Webb
Church service for Wayne "Tom" Rowden, 86, of Morton is scheduled
for 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13, 2006 at theFirst Baptist Church in Morton
with the Rev. Jon Foster and Rev. Marvin Gregory officiating. Burial
will be in Morton Memorial Cemetery.
Tom died Oct. 8, 2006 in his home. He was born June 13, 1920 in
Azle, Texas. Tom was preceded in death by his wife, Eva in 2003;
a son, Rusty in 1975; three sisters; and four brothers.
He came to Terry County with his family from Parker County in 1922,
traveling up the caprock in a covered wagon. He attended school there
and graduated from Brownfield High School in 1940. As one of ten
children, he worked on the farm until after harvest each year and attended
school for the remaining school year. He attended Texas Tech on a football
scholarship, but after three semesters he was called to duty in the military.
He served in the US Army from February of 1942 until January of 1946.
His main unit was the Cannon Company, 66th Infantry, attached to the
71st Infantry division. He moved to Morton in January of 1946 and was
employed by Allsup Chevrolet. He married Eva Louise Rankin on
Aug. 18, 1946 in Lamesa. He was a partner in P & B Automotive Services
in 1957 and sold his interest in 1967 to begin his career as an
auto-mechanics teacher in the fall. While teaching, he also was
Transportation Director for the Morton Schools. His students were
taught not only how to be mechanics, but how to handle life. His class
was taught as a job and excellence was expected.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Morton,
where he served in many areas, including the church choir. Singing about
his love of Jesus was his passion. He was also a member of the Volunteer
Fire Department for 20 years and a Cub Scout leader for several years. Tom
loved God, family, and country. He lived what he believed.
Survivors include: two daughters, Susan Wisely and her husband, Danny,
Janetta DeBusk and her husband, Randy, all of Morton; sister, Marjorie
Shipman of Lubbock; brother, R.J. Rowden of Brown-field; eight grandchildren,
Chris and Lesli Mosser, Leslie Baker, Brad and Laura DeBusk, Kim and
Matthias Gerlich, Kerry Mosser, Laura DeBusk, Joseph and Amanda Wisely,
and Whitney Wisely. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent
to Alcove-
PO Box 882, Morton, TX. 79346 and First United Methodist Church
418 W Taylor, Morton, TX 79346.
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal