The Reverend Doctor Albert James Bowles, Jr. entered into a new and eternal adventure with God as he passed through the chamber doors of death on June 16, 2025 with the full assurance of God’s presence, grace, and precious promises, to fulfill the purpose for which he was created. Al, as he was affectionately known and called, was a retired United Methodist clergy of the Holston Conference.
He began his adventure in this life officially with his birth to his parents, Albert J. Bowles, Sr. and Ruby M. Crigger Bowles of Wythe County, Virginia on May 12, 1939. Both his parents and an infant sister, Linda Lou Bowles preceded him in death, as well as one of his greatest blessings given him in life, his wife and supporter in ministry for almost sixty-five years, Christene Blessing Bowles (“Chris”). He is survived by five children, David Emory Bowles, Dreama Diane Martin and husband Eric, Christy Dawn Lim and husband Wath, Dee Ann Cain and husband Jac, and Laura L Boyer and husband John, and grandfather to Chase and Chaney Martin, Christa, Titus, and Rachel Lim, Emily Bowles Green, Travis, Cody, and Dylan Burnett, and great-grandfather to several great-grandchildren and multiple great, great grandchildren, a brother Jerry William Bowles and wife Linda of Wythe County Virginia, and a sister, Brenda Sue Crigger of Wythe County Virginia, and a host of nieces, nephews, and in-laws.
Al grew up in Wythe County Virginia; attended Lebanon Elementary School; was a graduate from George Wythe High School, Wytheville, Virginia in 1956 and Emory and Henry College, Emory, Virginia in 1961; received his Master of Divinity Degree from Candler School of Theology at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia in 1965 and his Doctor of Ministry Degree from Columbia Theological Seminary, Atlanta, Georgia in 1987.
Before his retirement at the June 2009 session of the Holston Annual Conference, Al was privileged to serve for 50 and ½ year as an active licensed or ordained United Methodist clergy. He was blessed with the opportunity to serve the following appointments in the United Methodist Church; Dante UMC, Dante, Virginia as a student pastor; Emory Circuit (Smyth Chapel, Yellow Springs, Blackwell’s Chapel, Lebanon), Meadow, Virginia as a student pastor; Assistant and Junior High pastor at East Lake UMC, Atlanta, Georgia as a seminary student; Senior pastor of the North Keywood Circuit (Plasterco, McCready, Mahanaim) Saltville, Virginia; Senior Pastor at Aldersgate and St. Luke UMC churches, Bristol, Virginia-Tennessee; Senior Pastor at Middlebrook Pike UMC, Knoxville, Tennessee; District Superintendent of the Maryville District, Maryville, Tennessee; Senior Pastor at Hixson UMC, Hixson, Tennessee; Senior Pastor at Munsey UMC, Johnson City, Tennessee; Senior Pastor at First-Centenary UMC, Chattanooga, Tennessee; District Superintendent of the Chattanooga District, Chattanooga, Tennessee. He always felt that God had blessed him with the opportunity to serve some of the most faithful, supportive, gracious, and loving congregations and districts in the Holston Conference.
During his ministry, Al served on and gave leadership to a number of Holston Conference boards, agencies, and committees. He served as a member and Chair of the Board of Hiwassee Trustees. His peers both humbled and honored him by electing him as a delegate to five consecutive General Conferences and six Jurisdictional Conferences. He was blessed to serve on the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church for eight years and served as Chair of the Division of Ministry for four of those years. Regardless of the servant opportunities, he always seemed impressed with what wondrous things God continues to do through the followers of Christ called United Methodist. The more he was exposed to the United Methodist church in all of its manifestations, the deeper his appreciation and love grew for the church which seeks to express itself in the Wesleyan tradition. He deeply treasured the connectional structure shared in the United Methodist church and felt it was worthy of our dedicated and best efforts. He was sincerely grateful and blessed with the call, honor, and privilege of being a United Methodist Clergy and his expression was always, “To God be the glory”.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held in the sanctuary of First-Centenary United Methodist Church on Saturday, June 21, at 2:00 pm. The family will receive friends two hours before the service.
United Methodist ministers and spouses and members of the Morgan Sunday School Class will be honorary pallbearers. Burial will be at the Hamilton Memorial Gardens on Highway 153 in Hixson, Tennessee.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to, ABIDE, gifts to the Abide Al and Chris Bowles Scholarship fund, c/o First-Centenary United Methodist Church, PO Box 208, Chattanooga, TN 37401.
This is a ministry for those who may forget easily but are not forgotten by the church.
Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com
The arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, TN 37343.
