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Obituaries

Obituary for Lester Earl Bowden, Sr. Lester Earl Bowden, Sr.
Self-Taught Guitar Player Was Band Leader, B. A. Mulligan Boiler Operator Supervisor

Lester Earl Bowden, Sr., 80, of Ronceverte, West Virginia passed away Sunday, February 2, 2020 at Kanawha Hospice House in Fairlea.

Lester was born May 13, 1939 in Ronceverte to the late Earl William and Lena Mae Sams Bowden.

Lester was a self-taught guitar player and leader of the West Virginia Bluegrass Connection. They received several awards through the years. In 1994, they received an Achievement Award for Outstanding Performance at the Virginia State Fair. In 1998, they received the Distinguished West Virginia Awards from Governor Cecil Underwood. They opened and performed with several singers such as Alison Krauss and Union Station, Del McCoury, Seldom Scene, Johnny Paycheck, The Whites, The Lewis Family, Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys, Charley Waller and The Country Gentleman, Ralph Stanley and Bill Monroe.

Lester retired from B. A. Mulligan as a boiler operator supervisor after 37 years of service.

Other than his parents, Lester was preceded in death by sister, Artie Rose Bowden and brother, Douglas McArthur Bowden.

Survivors include his loving wife, Elizabeth Bowden (Mrs. Boo) of Ronceverte; daughters, Drema Persinger and husband, Curtis of Caldwell, Melissa Tincher of Caldwell and Rebecca Gibson and husband, Michael of Buchanan, VA; sons, Lester Bowden, Jr. and wife, Angie of Lewisburg and Christopher Bowden and wife, Karen of Pickaway; grandchildren, Curtis Persinger and wife, Becky, Lindsey Windon and husband, Justin, Ezra Tincher, III, Joshua Tincher, Gabriel Gibson, Gabrielle Gibson, Karissa Bowden, and Kassidy Bowden; great grandchildren, Ellie Persinger, Mollie Persinger, Hunter Windon and Hadley Windon; a brother, Billy Allen Bowden, of Ronceverte. His dog, Mr. McGee.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 5, 2020 at Wallace and Wallace in Ronceverte with Pastor Wes Comer officiating. Burial will follow at the Elizabeth Chapel Cemetery.

Friends may call one hour prior to the service at the Wallace and Wallace in Ronceverte.