Dr. Allen Julian Bowen

Dr. Allen Julian “Sonny” Bowen, beloved husband, father, and friend, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at the age of 90.

On January 1, 1935, in a living room warmed by a wood-fire in Bristol, Georgia, Allen Paul Bowen and Mary Virginia Crosby Bowen welcomed their new years baby, Allen Julian Bowen. He had a multi-faceted childhood – moving between the country farm and the Big City, Savannah. A young “Sonny Boy” would spend his childhood first on the family farm, then in Savannah during grade school and eventually back to the farm where he would graduate from Patterson High School. He returned to Savannah and attended Armstrong College then moved to The University of Georgia in Athens where he not only earned a bachelor’s degree in science but also was a founding member of the Sigma Pi fraternity. It was during the summer vacation between his junior and senior years, on a tobacco field in Bristol, where he met the love of his life, Hazel. The two married after his graduation from UGA and moved to Huntsville, AL where he served as a chemical engineer during the Space Race for a short while. He ultimately returned to the academic setting where he earned his Doctorate from the University of Alabama School of Dentistry in Birmingham.  

Dr. Bowen was a talented dentist and used his practice as his ministry to show the love of Jesus. He provided many sets of dentures and other dental services to the community free of charge, even well after his retirement. In his personal life, Dr. Bowen’s mindset never left that of a boy living on a farm. He could often be found on his red International tractor, moving fallen trees, clearing limbs, and mowing grass. Right by his side you would find Hazel assisting him at home just as she had the dental office.  

Dr. Bowen was predeceased by his parents, son, Jerry Kip Bowen, and sisters, Joan and Carla Jean Bowen, and countless dear friends and family members.

He is survived by his loving wife, Hazel Wennell Bowen; his children, Keith (Vicky) Bowen of Bristol, GA; Kerry (Ursula) Bowen of Dublin, GA; and Kim Bowen of Cochran, GA; his brother, Jerry (Bonnie) Bowen of Baton Rouge, LA; Grandchildren, Crystal (Bill) Bailey, Jamie (Mikey) Brown, Julie (Richard) Scott, Samantha (Zac) Schuldt, Sunny Jarrard, Mickey (Rachael) Jarrard, Emily (Nick) Davis, and Meri Hanah Bowen. The family has been blessed with sixteen great-grandchildren: Olivia Bailey (Ty) Flanders and Luke Bailey; Makaylee, Matthew and Tyson Brown; Perry Scott; Natalee, Rooker, Waylon and Lettee June Schuldt; Madilyn, Jack and Olivia Jarrard; Elliana Davis; Mason and Hazel Juliette Monroe.

A memorial service will be held at 7:00 PM on Monday, July 28, 2025, in the Mary Whitaker Townsend Memorial Chapel at Townsend Brothers Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM until service hour at the funeral home. A small graveside memorial service will be held at a later date in the Lightsey Cemetery in Bristol, Georgia.

Memorial contributions may be made in his honor to Grace Baptist Church, 649 Gordon Edwards Road, Dublin, GA 31021.

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