Calvin Henry Bowden Jr.

Calvin was born into the family of Calvin Henry Bowden Sr. and Nina Elizabeth Banks Bowden, July 5, 1924. He grew up and went to school in Nacogdoches and later served in the U.S. Army Air Corps at Ladd Field in Fairbanks, Alaska. After being honorable discharged he got his BA degree in sociology and economics from Stephen F. Austin University. Later he received his masters in sociology from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX. Calvin worked for the Texas Department of Public Safety Drivers License Division and later was a Texas State Probation and Parole officer, which led him later to being one of the first Federal Probation and Parole officers hired in Texas. In 1950 he married the love of his life, Ilaverne Frederick, who was a nurse at Nacogdoches Hospital. Calvin’s love of writing prompted him to write five novels. He also wrote books of essays and columns in the Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel. He loved using his hands for woodwork and was an extremely talented carpenter. Music was a great passion of his and he played many instruments. He is survived by Pamela Bowden Suter (David), Diana Elizabeth Ormand (Jack), Beverly Ann Bishop (Alan) and Calvin Henry Bowden III (Jana), six grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews who he loved deeply.