Howard Dean Bowles

Graveside services for Howard Dean Bowles will be held Monday, October 1, 2018 at 11:00 am at Round Mountain Cemetery in Gore, Oklahoma under the direction of Agent Mallory Martin Funeral Home in Sallisaw, Oklahoma

Howard Dean Bowles of Brentwood, California, passed away surrounded by his family on September 12, 2018. He was born on July 21, 1943 in Vian, Oklahoma. He was the son of Roy Bowles and Mary Cowett Bowles. He married Phillis Ann Griffin on December 2, 1966 in Oceanside, California.

Howard graduated Vian High School in 1961 and Davey Institute of Tree Science 1973. He also completed extended college coursework. Howard retired as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Davey Tree Surgery Company, where he worked for 46 years.

Howard actively served on several Boards of non-profit organizations, and held different positions as their officers. He was a member of Celebration Christian Center in Livermore, California, where he served on the Elder Board for over 30 years. He also served on the Board of Shepherd’s Gate for 20 years, where he was able to help women and children escape cycles of addiction, homelessness and abuse. Howard served on the Board of Assist International for 10 years, where he helped orphans and vulnerable people, volunteering on overseas trips where his generosity built many projects for orphaned children. He helped the local communities of Livermore and Brentwood as a Rotarian for decades.

Howard was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying fishing, hunting, and golfing among other things. God always came first for Howard, and then his family second. He had a wonderful sense of humor and always put others at ease around him.

Howard is survived by his beloved wife of 51 years, Phillis. He had four daughters, Kelli Bowles, Palmalisa (Joseph) Moomau, Dana (Michael) Hotton, and April (Kenneth) Bowles-Cuddihy, all of Brentwood, California. He had 13 grandchildren (Brittney, Jordan “J.T.”, Hope, Mason, Jax, Mattison, Jeremiah, Shanelle, Mikayla, Peyton, Kameron, Izaiah, Isaac) and 3 great-grandchildren (Faith, Zachary, Noelle). Howard is preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Mary Bowles, and siblings Cecil, Richard, Fred, Ruby, Odell, Junior, Raymond and Bobby. He is survived by his sister Ruth Robison of El Reno, Oklahoma and brother Buddy Bowles of Rushville, Nebraska, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Howard will be laid to rest at Round Mountain Cemetery in Vian, Oklahoma. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Assist International or Shepherd’s Gate. Although his parting is sorrowful, his legacy of a lifetime of service to God and humanity will continue through those he loved and influenced.