Lester Earl Bowden Sr., 80, of Ronceverte, WV, passed away on Sunday, February 2, 2020, at the Kanawha Hospice House in Fairlea, WV.
Lester was born on May 13, 1939, in Ronceverte, to Earl William and Lena Mae Sams Bowden.
Lester was a self-taught guitar player and leader of the West Virginia Bluegrass Connection.
They received several awards through the years. In 1994, they received an Achievement Award for Outstanding Performance at the Virginia State Fair. In 1998, they received the Distinguished West Virginia Awards from Governor Cecil Underwood. They opened and performed with several singers such as Alison Krauss and Union Station, Del McCoury, Seldom Scene, Johnny Paycheck, The Whites, The Lewis Family, Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys, Charlie Waller and The Country Gentleman, Ralph Stanley, and Bill Monroe. Lester retired from B.A. Mulligan as a boiler operator supervisor after 37 years of service.
Other than his parents, Lester was preceded in death by sister, Artie Rose Bowden; and brother, Douglas McArthur Bowden.
Survivors include his loving wife, Elizabeth Bowden (Mrs. Boo) of Ronceverte; brother, Billy Allen Bowden of Ronceverte; daughters, Drema Persinger (Curtis) of Caldwell, WV, Melissa Tincher of Caldwell, and Rebecca Gibson (Michael) of Buchanan, VA; sons, Lester Bowden Jr. (Angie) of Lewisburg, WV, and Christopher Bowden (Karen) of Pickaway, WV; grandchildren, Curtis Persinger (Becky), Lindsey Windon (Justin), Ezra Tincher III, Joshua Tincher, Gabriel Gibson, Gabrielle Gibson, Karissa Bowden, and Kassidy Bowden; great-grandchildren, Ellie Persinger, Mollie Persinger, Hunter Windon, and Hadley Windon; and his dog, Mr. McGee.
Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, February 5, 2020, at the Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home in Ronceverte, with Pastor Wes Comer officiating. Burial will follow at the Elizabeth Chapel Cemetery.
Friends may call one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Send online condolences by visiting www.WallaceandWallaceFH.com.
Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home in Ronceverte is in charge of arrangements.
Obituary originally published in the February 4, 2020, edition of The West Virginia Daily News.
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