William J. Bowens, 92

03/21/2008

GREAT BARRINGTON — William James Bowens, 92, of Great Barrington and California, died on March 21, 2008, at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, Calif. Born in Camden, S.C., on April 26, 1915, the son and youngest child of Sam and Mary Bowens, he attended Kershaw County public schools there. He moved to New York in 1938 to Great Barrington a year later. Mr. Bowens was employed by the former GE in Pittsfield for 45 years, retiring as a foreman in 1985. He received numerous awards during his years of employment there. He first worked in food service in New York, then at the Berkshire Inn and Blantyre Inn in Lenox. He loved baseball and, at one time, played in a semi pro league in Camden. He enjoyed family, cooking, fishing, hunting, golf, basketball and traveling, especially his international trips. He had a special fondness for the Los Angeles Lakers and the ocean. His greatest enjoyment came from walking on the spacious property of his home, pulling weeds in the yard and surveying his land. His family described him as a quiet, gentle and kind man who carried himself proudly and was a devoted and loving husband and father. He and his wife, the former Mattie Marena Haile of Camden, celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary on Feb. 3. Besides his wife, he leaves a son and daughter-in-law, Anthony E. and George Anne Bowens of Altus, Okla.; two daughters, Maryella Satinover and her husband, Dr. Frank Satinover, of Mar Vista, Calif., and W. Loretta Bowens of Mahopac, N.Y.; a sister-in-law, Rachel Bownes of Pittsfield; three granddaughters, Shelby A. Bowens-McDade of Dallas, Kyalla D. Bowens of Cedar Hill, Texas, and Lisa Maldonado of Sunrise, Fla.; a grandson, Justin Satinover of Pacific Palisades, Calif.; two great-grandsons, Collin Anthony McDade of Dallas and Brady Bjornsen Satinover of Pacific Palisades, a great-granddaughter, Lola Victoria Satinover of Pacific Palisades, and many nieces, nephews and friends. He was predeceased by his brother, James S. Bownes, and sisters Cora Bowens and Evelyn Scott. FUNERAL NOTICE — Funeral services for William J. Bowens of Great Barrington will be conducted on Friday, March 28, at 3 from Finnerty and Stevens Funeral Home in Great Barrington by the Rev. Frances Hills, pastor St. James' Episcopal Church. Burial will take place Saturday, March 29, at 10 a.m. in Elmwood Cemetery in Great Barrington. Remembrances, memories and reflections may be sent to the family through www.finnertyandstevens.com.

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