Paul Woodruff Bowles

Paul Woodruff Bowles, D.Min. 90 years old, went home to the arms of his Lord, November 13, 2025. During the last months of his life, he was unwavering in his faith and peaceful about his destination. He spoke of the amazing grace of the blessings of his life: precious friendships, his wife, wonderful children, and the opportunities to experience and share the love of God with so many. His wit, wisdom and sense of humor was evident up to a few days before his passing.

Paul Bowles was born January 27, 1935 in Madisonville, Kentucky to Donna Mae and Paul Gamblin Bowles. He is proceeded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Cosette, and four children: son Brett and wife, Rosie; daughter Kim and husband John; son Dirk and wife Amanda and daughter Brittany: 10 grandchildren Brynne and wife Erin, Christian and wife Jess, Carolyn and husband PJ, Grace and husband Henry, Sammy, Norrie, Miles, Nahyr, Maya, and Nataly: 8 great grandchildren Charlotte, Eloise, JP, Micky, Tito, Thelma, Sergio and Antonito.

Paul was raised in the small Kentucky town of Earlington among his grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, where the coalmines were the major industry. His grandfather ran the coalmines and his dad worked as a dispatcher in the Utilities Power Company.

At the age of 18, Paul had what he called a “Damascus Road” experience where he was called to preach. While his father was not excited about this, his mentor/coach/Hulen Ritchie encouraged him to go to Georgetown College and pursue the ministry. Paul graduated cum laude in Theology from Georgetown College in 1957 with a minor in History and English. He started his first church in the garage of a house in Evansville, Indianna and was there 4 years until he was called to First Baptist Church Ellisville, Missouri where he led the church for 17 years, helping the church grow from 150 to over 1,200 members. During the years at First Baptist Ellisville, Paul and his wife Lynda, were raising their three children, Brett, Kim and Dirk and Paul continued his education. Current senior pastor Dr. Ryan Bowman and Dr. Paul stayed in touch and during Paul’s last years Dr. Bowman had him back to teach and guest preach.

In 1960, Paul received his Masters of Divinity (M. Div.) from Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky and in 1975, at the age of 40, he earned his Doctor of Ministry (D. Min.) in Counseling and Psychology from Eden Seminary in St. Louis.

Dr. Paul moved to Dallas, Texas in 1979 and joined Park Cities Baptist Church where he taught a large singles Sunday School class for over 15 years, as well as taught a weekly Divorce Recovery class and conducted a private counseling practice for individuals, marriages and families for over 20 years. Dr. Paul married Cosette in 1985 and they celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary this past July. Paul and Cosette adopted a 6 month-old Romanian baby in March of 1991. Brittany is now 35, living in Oklahoma and works as a Peer Recovery Specialist.

After his retirement 20 years ago, Dr. Paul kept up his avid love of history, scripture study and stayed busy both attending and teaching Bible studies. His love for Kentucky Basketball did not fade and he often sent work-out and play suggestions to Coach Calipari. Beginning in 2021, over an18-month period, he delighted in collaborating in a podcast series entitled “Come Let Us Reason Together” with his friend John Baldwin and eagerly shared his thoughts. Paul became a key part of the Ministry to the Unhoused in downtown Dallas for over 6 years and was faithfully part of the Thursday night Team from Parkway Hills every week even in his 90th year until he was no longer able to continue to his final months of life. Even more important, wherever Paul went he connected to others. His folksy Kentucky drawl and his ability to relate to almost anyone was a part of every-day life. He did not look at anyone as unacceptable to his perimeter of caring or consider anyone’s problem too insignificant. He simply showed love and acceptance with no ulterior motive. He loved to find out who you were and let you know you were important. In a world that is bleeding loneliness and craving caring, what a gift.

A Celebration of Life Service for Dr. Paul Bowles will be Friday, December 5, 2025 at 10:30am Park Cities Baptist Church Ellis Parlor, 3933 Northwest Parkway, Dallas, Tx. 75225. A reception afterwards will be in Ellis Parlor.