Ronald "Ron" A. Bowen

Ronald (Ron) was born December 30, 1937 in Belmont, West Virginia to Arlington Bowen and Grace Blankenship. He was the eldest of five children, having three brothers, Donald, Krandal, and Robert, and one sister Barbara. Ron remained in Belmont through 10th grade, spending a lot of time with his grandparents. Ron finished high school in Cincinnati, Ohio at Woodward High School and went on to complete his Bachelors Degree at the University of Cincinnati. While there, Ron also completed the ROTC program and on graduating, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force. At his commissioning, his sweetheart Heide Straub pinned his Air Force insignia on. The next day, June 10, 1961, Ron and Heide were married and began a wonderful journey together.

In 1962, Ron headed to pilot training at Moody AFB in Valdosta, Georgia. After receiving his wings, he went to Spanish language school for six months in preparation for an assignment in Majorca. He was offered an opportunity to go to Germany and jumped on it as his wife Heide had family and friends there. While living in Germany, Ron and Heide welcomed their daughter Melissa.

After Germany, Ron was sent to Vietnam, arriving during the Tet Offensive as an Ops Officer in the lower delta at Can Tho. After six months there, he spent another six months in Tan Son Nhut. Ron was awarded a Bronze Star during his time in Vietnam for meritorious service. After Vietnam, Ron had assignments at Eglin AFB, Valparaiso, Florida, as the Command Director in the Command Center at NORAD in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Mt. Laguna AFS in California, Korea, and back to Colorado Springs for assignments at Peterson, AFB and again at NORAD. During Ron’s time in the Air Force, he found time to complete his Masters Degree at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, and to pursue a couple of his personal passions – playing tennis and running (he completed a 500-mile club challenge so many times everyone lost track!). Ron retired from the Air Force in Colorado Springs, and had a successful second career at Martin Marietta as a systems engineer.

After his wife Heide passed in 2002, a friend sparked his interest in music. Ron learned to play trombone and played with the Pikes Peak Gold Band, Swingmasters Jazz Band, and the Al Kaly Shrine Band.

Ron was a mason for over 60 years and was also very active in the Al Kaly Shrine, holding several offices and roles. He was the potentate for Al Kaly in 2017, loving every minute of that year with his friends.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents Arlington and Grace Bowen, his lovely wife Heide, and his brother Krandal Bowen.

Ron is survived by his daughter Melissa (Frederick) Buchholz, granddaughter Sabrynne Buchholz, his siblings Donald (Megan) Bowen, Barbara (the late William) Massie, Robert (Debra) Bowen, and several nieces and nephews, his close friends he held in his heart as family, and of course, his best little buddy, Lucky.

A Visitation/Reception will be held Wednesday, July 30th from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Swan Law Funeral Directors, 501 N Cascade Ave Colorado Springs, CO 80903. Graveside Service with military honors will be held Thursday, July 31st at 11:30 a.m. at Fort Logan National Cemetery, 4400 W. Kenyon Ave Denver, CO 80236.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Al Kaly Shriners Transportation Fund, 635 W. Corona Ave., St. 120, Pueblo, Colorado, 81004, US, or to All Aboard Animal Rescue at www.aaanimalrescue.org.