Robert Earl Bowles

Published 12:01 am Friday, March 18, 2016

June 11, 1928 – March 11, 2016

NATCHEZ — Services for Robert Earl Bowles, 87, of Natchez, who died Friday, March 11, 2016, in Panama City, Fla., will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Jefferson Street United Methodist Church with the Rev. John Kramer and the Rev. Bryant Reed officiating.

Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time Saturday at the church.

Mr. Bowles was born June 11, 1928, in Pritchard, Ala. He was a resident of Natchez.

He moved to Natchez in 1950, when International Paper started up their pulp and paper mill. 

Robert worked at the mill for 47 years.  He lived and raised his family in Mt. Carmel subdivision in Morgantown. He served in the U.S. Army for two years and was stationed in Okinawa after the War.

Robert was preceded in death by his wife, Eva Batman Bowles and his mother, Marguerite Bowles.

Survivors include two sons Robert Earl Jr. and wife, Gwen Petty of Panama City and Richard of Zachary, La.; one daughter, Barbara Extine and husband, Roy, of Vicksburg; three grandsons,  Galen of Tallahassee, Fla., Daniel and fiancée, Allison Brown, of Birmingham, Ala., and Matthew of Anaheim, Calif.; one great-grandson, Grayson of Panama City; and his best friend of 50 years, Allen Burchfield and wife, Anna.

Pallbearers will be Galen Bowles, Daniel Bowles, Matthew Bowles, Allen Burchfield, Daryl Holland and Tom Cullum.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Robert’s name to the Jefferson Street United Methodist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 862, Natchez, MS 39121.

Online condolences may be sent to lairdfh.com.