Fred Kenneth Bowen

Ken was born on October 4, 1934, in Marvell, Arkansas. He was one of seven children born to Edwin and Tommie Chamblee Bowen. He grew up in Memphis, Tennessee where he graduated from Central High School. He served in the 8th Army Headquarters in Seoul, Korea and with the 2nd Armored Division (Trains) in Fort Hood, Texas. He was Honorably Discharged in May 1959.

Ken and Marilyn Beach were married on June 8, 1962, at Broadway Baptist Church in Kansas City, Missouri. He was the father of three children, Mark Anthony Biles (Sandra), Jeffrey Scott Bowen, and Christina Marie Bowen.

Ken was Vice President of B-S Steel of Kansas, Inc and was one of three owners. He retired in 1997. Fred was employed for 38 years in the steel industry, beginning in 1960. He was the office manager of Midwest Steel Company, Kansas City, Kansas; a salesman for Hubbell Metals, North Kansas City, Missouri; a salesman and vice president of Brown Strauss, Kansas City, Kansas; and vice president and partner of B-S Steel of Kansas City, Kansas. B-S Steel was recognized by Corporate Report Magazine as one of the "Top 100 New Businesses" and was numbered as one of the 100 largest steel warehouses in the U.S. by the Steel Services Center Magazine in 1997.

Ken was a member of Broadway Church in Kansas City, Missouri for 60 years.

He is survived by his children, granddaughters, Katie Melton (Zac), Abby Brooks (Chris), and Hannah Vasily (Avery), and eight great-grandchildren, sisters Rosaline Jean Price, Martha Ann Clayton and brother Robert Bowen, eleven nieces and nephews, cherished friends Martha Crane, Evelyn Golston, Tom Nerney, and his caregiver Queen Esther Horn, whose care and love made his final years happier and more comfortable. Finally, he is survived by his dog Lou Lou, who convinced him she was always hungry and kept him safe from squirrels and rabbits.

A visitation for Ken will be held Saturday, June 15, 2024, from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO 64131. A celebration of life will follow from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM, and a committal service from 3:00 PM to 3:30 PM at the same location. The celebration of Ken's life will be livestreamed... The link can be found below under 'Services"

Fred Kenneth Bowen - Autobiography

My son, Scott, asked that I write my history. I was born in Marvell, Phillips County, Arkansas on October 4, 1934, and my family moved to Memphis, Tennessee in 1940. I attended Cummins Grade school, Bellview Junior High school, and Central High School where I graduated in 1954.

In 1948, I went to live with my grandfather, William Marion, for a year in Marvell, Arkansas. My grandfather, a widower, asked my parents to let me live with him as he needed help in his general store, and he was living alone in the country. My brother, Edwin Jr., had been living at his home, but Edwin, Jr., became ill and had to go to Memphis to be hospitalized. During my time in Arkansas, I was baptized at the country Church of Christ my grandfather attended. My brother died in June of the year. My parents decided I should return home.

While in high school, my brothers, Jack and Harold, and I delivered the Memphis newspaper, The Commercial Appeal. We got up about 4 a.m. and delivered the newspapers before going to school. I won two trips to New Orleans during this time by meeting new subscriber sale goals. I graduated from Central High in 1954.

My family moved to Hapeville, Georgia, in July of 1954 as my father, Edwin, was transferred by Delta Airlines to their overhaul base. In 1955, I began working at the division office of The Texas Company as mailroom clerk. I attended Georgia Tech Evening Division for one semester during the fall of 1954. Realizing obtaining an engineering degree at night school, after working all day, would not be possible for me, I transferred to Georgia State College to work on a degree in Business Administration.

I began dating Charlotte Carleen Nash. We met at the North Avenue Church of Christ where our families worshipped. We were married in December of 1955. In May 1957, I entered the US Army for two years of service. I received basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia and advanced training at Ft. Jackson, S. C. I was then assigned to the 8th Army HQ Seoul, Korea for 13 months. I served in Headquarters 8th Army, United Nations Command in Seoul, Korea as a clerk in the Adjutant General Section assigning officers to post in Korea.

I returned to Georgia in October, 1958, and following a month home, I reported to duty to the 2nd Armored Div., (Trains), Ft. Hood, Texas. I received an Honorable Discharge in May 1959. While stationed at Ft. Hood, Texas, Carleen filed for divorce, and the divorce was granted in September 1959. I returned to my former job at The Texas Company where I was employed as a accounting clerk.

I was having difficulty adjusting to the shock of the divorce. An army buddy, who knew of the changes in my life, invited me to visit him in Kansas City. I enjoyed the city and met new friends. In January 1960, I resigned my position at The Texas Company and made the move to Kansas City, Missouri. In Kansas City, I obtained a job as an office manager for a small steel distributor. Being from the South, I was not familiar with snowstorms. Deep snow was on the ground for over two months. I thought maybe I should rethink my decision to live in Missouri.

I earned my college degree attending night school over a period of twelve years. I attended six different colleges. I attended Georgia Tech University, Georgia State College, and while in the military, University of Maryland, Korea Extension and Mary Harding Baylor. Following my discharge from service and returning to Atlanta, I went back to Georgia State College, and after moving to Missouri, Kansas City Junior College and finally my degree at Rockhurst University, where in May 1966 I earned my BSBA Degree with a major in accounting.

Seven months after moving to Kansas City I met Marilyn J. Beach, a graduate nurse from the University of Kansas. We began dating in November 1960 after attending a University of Kansas football game together with a friend. We were married on June 8, 1962, at Broadway Baptist Church in Kansas City. Marilyn's family had always been members of this church which was founded as the First Swedish Baptist Church. Her grandparents were Swedish immigrants. I returned to my faith and was re-baptized and became a member of this church in 1963. Marilyn and I were historians of the 110-year-old church. Marilyn and I became parents of two children, Jeffery Scott, born in June 1964, and Christina Marie, born in July 1965.

I was employed for 38 years in the steel distribution industry beginning in January 1960. My first position in the industry was with Midwest Metals Co., Kansas City, Kansas, as the office manager. In 1964, following the death of the owner, the company was sold to Hubbell Metals, and I transferred to the new company as a salesman. In 1966, I left Hubbell Metals for employment in the sales department at Brown-Strauss Corp. I remained for 17 years until the company was closed. I become one of the Vice Presidents of the company. Brown- Strauss was acquired by Consolidated Goldfields Inc. in 1972 and become part of a national network of metal distributors. The corporation assumed the name of AZCON Corp.

In March 1983, following a turndown in business the early 80's and Consolidated Goldfield's desire to concentrate on its main business, gold mining, AZCON Corp. was ordered closed by the corporate office. Following the announced closing of AZCON Corp. two associates, F. Patrick Ulhmer, Sales Manager, and David A. Staab, Vice President, and I decided to continue in the steel distribution business. We incorporated a new business, Brown Strauss Steel of Kansas Inc. (B-S. Steel of Ks. Inc.) to continue in the steel warehouse distribution business in Kansas City and the surrounding areas of Eastern Kansas and Western Missouri. Many of the former employees of AZCON Corp. joined the new enterprise. With experienced employees, B - S Steel was able to have outstanding success and meet all its business projections years earlier than predicted. The successes of this corporation was recognized by the Kansas City CORPORATE REPORT Magazine. Our company was named one of the “Top 100 New Businesses” in the Kansas City, MO. In 1997, B-S Steel of Kansas, Inc. was listed as one of the 100 largest steel warehouses in the U. S. by the 'Steel Service Magazine.'

Marilyn and I enjoyed traveling. We were able to travel to Mexico, Canada, Florida, Hawaii and many interesting cities in the U.S. We began traveling to Europe in 1980 and made over fifteen vacations there.

In 1997, Marilyn and I purchased a condo in Treasure Island, Florida, where our family had vacationed for many years. As Marilyn had health issues and I was growing tired of the pressures of the business world, I decided it was time to retire. In December 1997, I was able to finalize a buyout agreement with my partners for my third of the business. Marilyn and I retired.

A big surprise was received in January 2001. I received an e-mail from a young man, Mark A. Biles. He wrote I was his biological father, and his mother was Carleen. In late January of 1959, Carleen revealed to me she was in a relationship while I was in Korea. In the spring, Carleen filed for divorce, I knew she was pregnant. In her application for divorce, she asked that I not have any contact with the child. Not knowing if I was the father, and really afraid to ask her, I decided not to contest her decision. I never knew if I was the father until I was contacted by Mark and saw the baby picture he sent. Mark revealed that I not only had a son and a daughter-in-law but was grandparent of three beautiful granddaughters. Learning Mark was my son is a special blessing and has brought joy not only to me but to all my family.