William was the son of James Bowden and Blanche Delbridge. He married Harriett Carmer on 20 July 1927 in Humboldt Co, Iowa. They were the parents of James, Richard, and Delores.


July 26, 1980 - Humboldt Independent - Funeral services for William J. Bowden were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 26, in the United Methodist Church, Humboldt, with Dr. Ralph Kitterman officiating. Burial was in Union Cemetery.

Mr. Bowden, Gilmore City, died Tuesday July 22, at Trinity Regional Hospital, Fort Dodge. Honorary casket bearers were Everette Reedy, Perry Morse, George Grebner, Raymond Morse, Milo Bowen, Dale Himrod, Lloyd Adams and Louis Olthoff. Casket bearers were Harvey Paper, Homer Eastman, William Beck, Tom Law, Paul Strachan, and Donald Slaikeu.

Special music was provided by Carl Warrington, soloist and Mrs. Keith Sayers, organist. Selections were "How Great Thou Art" and "The Lords Prayer." Mrs. Harvey Paper, Mrs William Beck, Mrs. Paul Strachan and Mrs. Everette Reedy were in charge of the of the flowers. Richard Mather was usher. Interment was in Union Cemetery, Humboldt. Lindhart Funeral Home, Humboldt, was in charge of arrangements. The Eastern Star Lodge of Humboldt held a Masonic service at 8 p.m., Friday, July 25, at the funeral home. Acting worshipful master was Brother Duane Greene. Soloist was Brother Carl Warrington and organist was Mrs. Keith Sayers, for "Be Still My Soul".

Surviving are his wife, Harriett; sons, James, Gilmore City; and Richard, Williams; daughter, Mrs. Seymour (Delores) Schaa, Webster City; nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; brothers, Fred and Tudor, both of Lament; Llewyn, Winthrop; and Arnold, Alburnett; and sisters, Mrs. Bessie Potter, Mrs. Arthur (Gwendolyn) Schweitzer, and Mrs. Vern (Eileen) Reed, all of Lament; and Mrs Myrtle Day, Waterloo.

Mr. Bowden was born in DeKalb, Illinois, Feb. 3, 1904 and later moved with his family to the Masonville area. He received his education in the Lamont school system. He married Harriett Carmer in 1927 and the couple moved to Humboldt in 1945.

He farmed near Gilmore City and retired in 1976. He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Humboldt, the Eastern Star Lodge of Humboldt, the Consistory in Des Moines, the Abu Bakr Shrine in Sioux City and the Izaak Walton League. He was a Weaver Township trustee.