William "Bill" J. Bowen

Cecilia - A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, February 13, 2021, at Pellerin Funeral Home in Cecilia for William "Bill" J. Bowen, 88, who passed away on Tuesday, February 9, 2021, at his residence. The family requests that visiting hours be observed at the funeral home (Cecilia location) from 3:00 pm until 9:00 pm on Friday and continue on Saturday at 8:00 am until 11:00 am. A Rosary will be prayed at 6:30 pm on Friday evening by his granddaughters. Fr. James Brady will officiate at the Funeral Service at 11:00 am. Interment will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in Cecilia. Bill was born and raised in Missouri County, MO. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri and was a proud member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. After college, Bill, an Eagle Scout, served as an executive with the Boy Scouts in Des Moines, IA for a number of years. In the 1960's, he moved to New Orleans where he was a top salesman for National Cash Register (“NCR”) for over a decade. Bill then moved to Lafayette where he started Acadiana Printing, a successful business that he owned and operated for over fifty years. He also met his future wife, Virginia; they soon married and shared 48 happy years together. Bill was passionate about fishing and playing Texas Hold ‘Em (and particularly winning money from his Optimist Club buddies). But above all he loved cooking and having the entire family together to enjoy a good meal. He especially loved spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchild. Bill was a loving and generous man who happily raised many children, and he will be greatly missed by all. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Virginia Patin Bowen; four daughters, Tassie Bowen, Elizabeth Anthony (Ted), Karen Benoit (Dale) and Robin Grace (Billy); three sons, Sidney Norbert Barras Jr., Keith Barras (Carol) and Terry Lewis (Melodie); seven grandchildren, Dexter Courville, Megan Dugas, Addyson Barras, Ashley Barras, Abbygail Barras, Kathryn Anthony and Nicholas Anthony; and great-great grandchild, Anna Grace Dugas. He was preceded in death by his parents, Francis (Musick) and Alfred Bowen; mother and father in-law, Lena and Dudley Patin, Sr.; and son, Regie Bowen. Pallbearers will be Sidney Norbert Barras Jr., Keith Barras, Ted Anthony, Nicholas Anthony, Dexter Courville, and Dale Benoit. Honorary pallbearers will be Terry Lewis, Bill Sebastian, Fred Black, and James Dugas. The family would like to offer special thanks to Dr. Stephen Salopek, Hospice Nurse Karen Stelly and Hospice Nurse Assistant Regina Clark for the compassionate care that they provided to Bill in his time of need. Pellerin Funeral Home of Cecilia, 2238 Bushville Hwy., Cecilia, LA 70521, (337-332-2111) is in charge of arrangements.