Obituary of Evont L Bowens

Lt.Col. Evont Leonard Bowens, 93, of Willingboro, born on October 22, 1928, beloved husband of Lois Elaine Bowens and father of seven, retired army officer and businessman, passed away peacefully on February 8, 2022, following a long battle with Parkinson’s disease for which he had been undergoing attentive treatment and receiving loving care while in the comfort of his home surrounded by his loved ones... His death is merely a transition to his heavenly home. Evont was preceded in death by his beloved daughter, Yvonne Dolores Bowens; his parents, Eddie Lee Bowens and Clementine Bowens Anderson; his sister, Jacquelyn Bowens Odol; his nephew, Javan Odol; and his niece, Clarissa Odol Genwright. Evont was born in Jacksonville, Florida. He was the first child of Eddie Lee Bowens and Clementine Bowens Anderson. He was raised in Jacksonville and graduated with the class of 1946 from Old Stanton High School, the oldest continually operating high school in Florida. Evont attended Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, completed FAMU’s Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program, and was commissioned in the Army as a 2nd Lt. in June 1950. Evont served during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War with tours of duty in Alaska, Antarctica, the Azores, France, Germany, Greenland, Japan, Korea, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Vietnam. After twenty years of distinguished, honorable service, Evont retired from active duty in the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Transportation Corps while stationed at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn, New York. Retired from the Army, Evont was employed as Director of Administrative Services for Seatrain Shipbuilding Corporation in New York. After a long career as a corporate executive, Evont longed to spend more quality time with his family. He retired from professional work as Director of Environmental Services in New Jersey at the Presbyterian Homes at Meadow Lakes in Hightstown, Monroe Village in Jamesburg, and The Lutheran Home at Moorestown. Evont is survived by his devoted wife, Lois Elaine Bowens, after 68 years of marriage, and leaves to cherish his memory two sons, Ethan Leonard Bowens (Portia) and Kevin Evont Bowens (John Mannion); four daughters, Carolyn Lucille Keneipp (Michael), Rita Antoinette Washington, Reba Annette Hall (Robert) and Elaine Lois Samuels (Dwight); a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and very close lifetime friends.