Funeral services for Wilmer Ray "W.R." Bowden, age 73, of Rusk are scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Friday, July 8, 2011 in Memorial Missionary Baptist Church with Rev. Don Copeland officiating. Interment will be Salem Cemetery under the direction of Wallace-Thompson Funeral Home in Rusk. Mr. Bowden died July 4, 2011 in a Rusk Hospital. He was born July 4, 1938 in Rusk to the late Luther Mansel and Ila Cecil Moore Bowden. Mr. Bowden was a resident of Rusk most of his life and served in the United States Army in Korea. He attended a Tyler Business School, worked at Perry Brothers and owned and operated Bowden and Son Construction Company. Mr. Bowden retired from TDCJ in 1997 and his family church was Memorial Missionary Baptist Church in Rusk. He was past commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post #3406 in Rusk and a member of the Timpson Masonic Lodge #437. Preceded in death by his first wife, Patsey Sue Hanvy Bowden, grandson, Cody Chane Walley, mother-in-law, Nora Hanvy. He is survived by his wife of 14 years, Betty Jean Bowden of Rusk, daughter and son-in-law, Pamela Sue Blackwell and husband James of Palestine, TX, son, Kevin Ray Bowden and wife Donna of Center, TX, daughter, Penny Leigh Walley of Rusk, son, David Nathaniel Bowden of Rusk, step-children, Carla and James Beck of Milano, TX, step-daughter, Samantha McClure of Rusk, step-son and daughter-in-law, Sam and Rebecca Nickle of Georgetown, TX, step-daughter, Minka Nickle of Tyler, TX, brother and sister-in-law, James and Sandy Bowden of Lufkin, TX, sister and brother-in-law, Barbara and Travis Halbert of Rusk, sister and brother-in-law, Janis and Kenneth Helm of Rusk, brother, Kenneth Bowden of Rusk, sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Chris Hoover of Rusk, grandchildren, Melissa "Mo" Ann Howell Bissinger, Brett "Brat" RayAnn Bowden, Chris "Critter" Walley, Drew "Handy Andy" Walley, Rachel Leigh Walley, Kamren "Lump" Bowden, Miranda Beck, Megan Beck, David Beck, Daniel Beck, Amy McClure, Brandon "Peanut" McClure, Kyleigh McClure, Christian Daniels, Kasey Nickle, Gavin Daniels, Aiden Nickle, one great grandson, Carlin "Big" Allbright, mother-in-law, Leneia Yarborough of Rusk, brother-in-law, Stanley Yarborough of Houston, TX, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Dan and Sherry Yarborough of Friendswood, TX, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Ray and Jessica Yarborough of Willis, TX, sisters-in-law, Judy Stewart of Rusk, Mildred Ballew of Rusk, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Billy and May Hanvy of Lufkin, numerous nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will include Kevin Ray Bowden, Chris Walley, Drew Walley, Sam Nickle, Nate Bowden and James Beck. Honorary pallbearers will be James Harvey Justice, Edwin Ballew, Archie Nickle, Chris Hoover, Kenneth Bowden, Pat Cook, Travis Halbert, Kenneth Helm, James Bowden, C.D. Ramey, Bill Rhodes, Stanley Yarborough, Dan Yarborough, Ray Yarborough, Jessie Vann and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #3406, Rusk, TX. Family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, July 7, 2011 at the funeral home.