Theodore "Ted" Bowen

Mr. Theodore “Ted” Bowen, 94, a lifelong teacher, volunteer fireman, Beekeeper, longtime resident and active participant in the Gibsonville Community, passed away Monday, May 6th.  Mr. “B” was born on December 25, 1924 in Martin County, Bear Grass, NC to the late Lawrence and Lizzie Winn Bowen, and was married to the late Lorene Owens Bowen who passed away in 2002.

He joined the US Navy in 1943 and received an Honorable Discharge as a Seaman First Class in 1947. He then used the G.I. Bill and enrolled at Atlantic Christian College (Barton College) where he met Lorene Owens who he married on October 11, 1949. After completing his undergraduate studies in three and one-half years, he began his math teaching career in Calypso, NC. After teaching for a year, both he and Lorene secured teaching positions in Gibsonville.  He taught math at Gibsonville School and after 35 years of teaching Mr. “B” retired from Guilford County Schools in 1985.

In addition to his professional career, he was a member of the following organizations: Gibsonville Fire Department (21 years), manager of the Gibsonville Country Club (15 years), member of the Town of Gibsonville Planning Board (15 years), volunteered for the Loaves and Fishes Christian Food Ministry, Inc., and Alamance County Meals on Wheels, as well as being a member of the Alamance County Beekeepers Association. If you have ever been to the NC State Fair and visited the Agriculture Building, you will see an example of his passion for and extensive knowledge of bees and his wood craftsmanship in the Bee Observation Tower that he built. He was an active member of the St. Mark’s Church in Burlington, NC.

He is survived by his three children, Elizabeth “Beth” Palsha and husband James “Jim” Palsha retired Col, of Springfield VA, Dr. Theodore “Teddy” B. Bowen of Salisbury, NC, Sandra Kilpatrick and husband David Kilpatrick of Burlington; his grandchildren, Rebecca Palsha-Hopkins, James D. Palsha, Patrick A. Palsha, Jasmine M. Bowen, Theodore B. Bowen, II and Dustin P. Kilpatrick; great grandchildren, Alice Hopkins, Poppy Hopkins, Raleigh Palsha, Charlotte Palsha, Samuel Bowen and Theodore B. Bowen, III; numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife; parents; 5 sisters and 3 brothers.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00am Friday, May 10, 2019 at St. Mark’s Church by Rev. Ben Bishop with the burial to follow in the Gibsonville City Cemetery with military honors.  The family will receive friends from 6 to 8pm Thursday evening at Lowe Funeral Home & Crematory and other times at the residence.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Gibsonville Fire Department or to Hospice of Alamance-Caswell, 914 Chapel Hill Road, Burlington, NC 27215.