Joseph Laurence “Larry” Bowden, 70, of Rockingham, passed away suddenly at his home Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023.
Larry was a son of the late Laurence Bowden and Nancy Cheek Bowden and was born and raised in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Along with his parents, Larry is preceded in death by a brother, Michael Bowden; and a son, Chuck Bowden.
Larry served in the United States Air Force and served honorably for a few years before locating to Rockingham. When Larry moved to Richmond County, he served many years as a lieutenant for the local sheriff’s department.
There are many ways you could describe Larry, but if you tried there wouldn’t be enough words to truly encapsulate what a magnificent and wonderful man he was. When raising his sons, Larry Jr. and Chuck, he instilled a high moral code of respect and dignity to others. Even through his cheeky jokes, at the end of the day, he always loved and treasured his wife and family.
Larry was a man of humor, and his life mission was to make you laugh regardless of the cost to do so. He would often say that there was “no cost too high,” even to the point of making himself the punchline. The jokes he would make were to make others laugh. As a people-person, it made him happy to make others happy. When remembering Larry, cherish the memories of his laughter and charm. It is through those memories that he will live on and never be forgotten.
Larry is survived by his lovely wife, Patty O’Brien Bowden, to whom he was married to for a blissful 48 years; a son, Larry Bowden Jr.; grandchildren Gage Jones, Jaxon Bowden, Kaleigh Bowden and Kennedi Bowden; siblings Kevin Bowden and Keith Bowden. Larry also leaves behind his many longtime friends all of whom will miss him dearly.
A celebration of Larry’s life will be held Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023, at 1 p.m. at First Methodist Church in Rockingham with Pastor Darrell Bowles officiating. Burial will follow at Eastside Cemetery where military honors will be rendered.
Due to his sudden passing, in lieu of flowers, the family humbly requests that memorial donations be made out to Watson-King Funeral Home to go toward funeral costs.
Online condolences can be made at watson-kingfuneralhome.com. Watson-King Funeral Home is assisting the Bowden Family during their time of grief.
