RAY BOWEN Raymond "Ray" Linder Bowen, 85, Chico, CA. Passed away at his home August 7, 2016. He was born August 4, 1931, in Glendale, CA, to Lloyd and Virginia Bowen. Ray attended school in the Los Angeles area and was quite popular at El Monte High School. He was a track and cross country stand-out and was the news announcer for the high school. He went on to attend Los Angeles City College before transferring to Chico State College where he continued running on the track team. He eventually earned his Master's Degree in Business Administration. Ray had always been a hard worker and a good salesman. When he was younger he got his experience by selling fishing bait to tackle shops around Big Bear Lake. He also sold nuts and bolts and pots and pans door-to-door. Ray was drafted during the Korean War and was married to Royce Lake just prior to his enlistment in the U. S. Army. Ray served his two years in the army with his new wife at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. After his time in the service Ray opened a used car lot in Oroville, CA, called Skyview Auto Sales. He then opened another used car lot and body shop in Paradise, CA. In 1962, Ray opened Park Motors in Chico, CA. He acquired Renault, Mercedes Benz, Volvo, Peugeot, Triumph, MG, DKW and Datsun dealerships. In 1965, he built a new dealership on Manzanita Avenue where it is still in business as Chico Nissan Hyundai. Ray also founded CVM Systems in the late 1970s. It was a small computer company that designed and developed software and hardware systems for small businesses. He built up and serviced over 100 clients before the personal computer age forced him to dissolve the company. Ray loved construction as well. He remodeled and designed projects for the fun of it or because it was fun to him! He built a 15,000 square foot office complex on his property south of the car dealership and a computer company building that included offices and warehouse next to that. Did I say Ray loved to work? He managed and taught many people great lessons at work and in life. Ray is survived by the love of his life Royce Bowen, four children, Karrie Rottschalk, Brenda Bowen, Brian Bowen and Todd Bowen, son in law Rory Rottschalk all of Chico, CA; three grandchildren, Kristy Dailey, Sam Rottschalk, and Tim Starkey, all from Chico, CA; and six great-grandchildren, Devan, Connor, and Brianna Dailey, Laney and Rory Rottschalk and Coen Starkey of Chico, CA; one brother, Gene Bowen, of Santa Rosa, CA; a niece, Sheri Baldwin of Cambria, CA; and a nephew, Bradley Bowen, of Kirkland, Washington. Services will be held Wednesday, September 7, 2016 at Newton Bracewell Funeral Home, Chico, at 11 AM. To view this obituary online, send condolences to the family, or to share memories of Ray, visit NewtonBracewell.com.

Published in Chico Enterprise-Record on Aug. 31, 2016