Dorothy Lee Bowen

Dorothy Lee Bowen, 85, of Amarillo, TX passed away on June 17, 2022.

Memorial services will be at 11:00 A.M., Thursday, June 30, 2022, at First Baptist Church with Dr. Howard K. Batson officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, Amarillo.

Dorothy was born in Lamesa, TX on November 20, 1936, to Ivy and James Elmer Walker. She attended Abilene schools, graduated with honors from Hardin-Simmons University, and studied theology and religious education for two years at Southwestern Baptist Seminary.

Dorothy married O.K. Bowen in Abilene, Texas on July 26, 1958, knowing that she would be a pastor’s wife. That can be a difficult task, but she did it with grace and love, being everywhere loved and appreciated.

Dorothy was influenced by Baptist Missionary Union and its auxiliaries from her childhood, and it fueled her passion for ministry and missions. She served on executive boards in Oklahoma and Texas, was Texas Promotional Vice President, and led conferences in three states. She was the Texas consultant for Korean, Chinese, and Hispanic work, which involved a lot of travel. She also led conferences in Sunday School and youth ministry in several states. She was involved in many youth mission trips and five international mission trips. She found time to deliver meals on wheels and serve in the hospital auxiliary.

Dorothy enjoyed reading, camping, backpacking, fishing, photography, gardening, sewing, and cooking, in which she excelled. She was always a fun person to be around. Her humor was unique and her repartee was quick. She always loved her church and in retirement in First Baptist Amarillo, she taught an international Sunday School class, led an ESL group, and served on the missionary house committee. Her love for her Lord was deep and real.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Clara Mae Beauchamp, and her husband Jerry Beauchamp; her nephew, Joe Ross Beauchamp; her niece, Carla Sue Ward; and her sister-in-law, Helen Walker.

Survivors include her husband, O.K. Bowen, of Amarillo, Texas; her sons, Steven, of Yukon, Oklahoma, and Peter, of Plainview, Texas; her grandsons, Walden Bowen and Forest Bowen, of Yukon, Oklahoma, Ryan and his wife Valerie, currently of Amarillo, Texas, and Jeremy Bowen, of Abilene, Texas; her granddaughter, Elizabeth Billings, of Tacoma, Washington; and her brothers, Calvin Walker, of Abilene, Texas, and Riley Walker and his wife Iris, of Spicewood, Texas.