Reuben Carl Bowes

REUBEN CARL BOWES, age 101, of Roxboro, NC passed away Sunday night, August 17, 2025 with his loving family by his side at Duke University Hospital. 

Mr. Bowes was born August 8, 1924 in Person County, NC, son of the late Lawrence Earl & Mary Elizabeth Allen Bowes and was husband of 67 years to the late Frances Talley Bowes.  After graduating Roxboro High School in 1941 he attended King’s Business College in Greensboro, NC and then he began his banking career with The Peoples Bank which merged with First Union National Bank in 1968 from which he retired on March 31, 1984 after thirty-nine and a half years as Vice President and then enjoyed life with his dear wife until her passing on September 12, 2014.  He joined Wheelers Primitive Baptist Church on August 11, 1945 where he served as Deacon since 1957 and remained a faithful member until his passing and was a veteran of the US Army.

He was a member of the Bushy Fork Grange #1073 where he was treasurer for more than 50 years, was a member of the Roxboro Civitan Club for 58 years until it dissolved in 2016 where he served as Lt. Governor in 1974 & 1975, and was co-founder of Roxboro Christian Academy in 1976 along with Milton Windham.  He also served as Clerk of the Lower Country Primitive Baptist Association for 38 years and was Moderator for 22 years.    

Surviving are two children, Carl Bowes & wife, Connie, Robin B. Pulliam & husband, Kent, five grandchildren, Marc Bowes & wife, Holly, Colonel Shaun Bowes & wife, Krista, Cameron Bowes, Kerri Ottwell & husband, Brian, Alan Pulliam & wife, Candice, great-grandchildren, Paige Bowes, Hunter Pulliam, Nataleigh Ottwell, Thomas Bowes, Levi Pulliam, Makenley Ottwell, and Dylan Bowes.

In addition to his parents and wife, Mr. Bowes is preceded in death by four brothers, Warren Bowes, Edgar Bowes, Edward Bowes, and Phillip Bowes.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 20, 2025 at Wheelers Primitive Baptist Church with the Rev. Herbert Brown officiating.  Interment will follow in the church cemetery.  The family will receive friends and guests from 1:00 till 2:00 p.m. prior to the service at the church and at the home on Tuesday, August 19, 2025 from 12:00 noon till 7:00 p.m.  

Pallbearers will be Cameron Bowes, Marc Bowes, Ronnie Bowes, Colonel Shaun Bowes, Joe Pope, and Alan Pulliam.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wheelers Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery Fund c/o Carl Bowes, 66 Old Hickory Drive, Roxboro, NC 27573.

Arrangements are by Strickland and Jones Memorial Funeral Services, 1810 Durham Road, Roxboro, NC 27573. Online condolences may be made at stricklandandjonesfs.com.

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