Robert Lesley Bowen

We mourn the loss of Robert Lesley (“Bob”) Bowen of Arvada, Colorado, who died on March 22nd, 2022 at the age of 59. Bob (who was known as Lesley growing up) was a treasured son, brother, husband, and father. Bob was smart, kind, funny, loving, and modest. He was so important and close to family throughout his life. We will all miss him forever.

Robert Lesley Bowen was born August 27, 1962, in Columbia, South Carolina to parents Robert Nolan and Vivian Lesley Bowen. Bob had three sisters: Susan Lyn, Sandra, and Cele Jean.

When Bob was 4 years old, the family moved from Columbia S.C. to Ann Arbor, Michigan, and this is where Bob grew up. Bob attended Ann Arbor Pioneer High School and Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan, earning his Bachelors’ Degree in Business in 1986.

After college Bob began a career in sales. Bob moved to Connecticut where he met his first wife, Brenda O’Grady. They were married in 1991, and shortly after that moved to California. Bob and Brenda lived in Carlsbad, Moorpark, Coarsegold and Clovis (near Fresno). Their son Ryan William Bowen was born in 1996. After his divorce, Bob moved to Colorado in 2012. Bob met Rose LaVelle in 2012 and they were married on September 2, 2014. Bob and Rose both had a strong entrepreneurial drive. Together, they opened a car dealership, “Colorado Auto Gallery” in Lakewood in 2019.

Bob’s career was primarily in sales. He worked with different companies, the longest being Dickies clothing company where Bob was ranked, for many consecutive years, as the top salesman nationally.

Bob had a passion for cars starting in high school, where he took auto mechanic classes and made numerous upgrades to his Camero. He loved motorcycles and enjoyed flying remote control airplanes. Bob could fix anything mechanical and worked for a time in Denver as a plumber.

Bob was proceeded in death by his first wife, Brenda O’Grady Bowen, and his sister, Cele Bowen Czarnecki. He is survived by his wife Rose Bowen in Arvada, Colorado; son Ryan William Bowen in Hawthorn, California; daughters Brigid Lindsey LaVelle and Nicole Anne LaVelle in Arvada, Colorado; sister Susan Lyn Bowen in Fort Collins, Colorado; sister Sandra Bowen Talley and husband Doug in Palmdale, California.