William Earl Bowles

GLASGOW – William Earl Bowles, 95, passed away Sunday, July 5, 2026, at TJ Samson Community Hospital. He was born in Barren County on February 14, 1931, to the late William Henry Bowles and the late Mary Lavada Young Bowles.

He was a Korean War veteran and a member of the 623rd Field Artillery Battalion, National Guard. He retired from Eaton Axle and was a longtime member of Mount Tabor Baptist Church. He was a Kentucky Colonel.

He enjoyed fishing, playing pool, and trading knives.

He is survived by a brother, Jim Bowles, Mount Washington; a sister-in-law, Shirley Payne; several nephews and nieces; Jeff Bowles (Nancy), John Button Jr. (Angela), Charlie Lowery (Chasity), Gary Doyel (Ann), Loretta Murrey (Harrell), Jennie Daugherty (Mark), Linda Bowles (Kyle), Janet Thomerson, and Cary Proffitt (Beth); and several great-nieces and nephews.

He is also survived by his longtime caregiver, Vickie Mosby, as well as his current caregivers, CJ Wheeler, Teresa Jennings, and Kym Yates.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Vernell Payne Bowles; his sisters, Mary Emogene Fisher (Bill), Doris “Dot” Button (John), Judy Lowery (Gary), and Juanita Bowles; his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Lula Martin (Eugene), Russell Payne (Ruth), Rondall Payne, and Dixine Proffitt (Arlen B); and his nephew, Daryl Payne.

The funeral service will be held at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at A.F. Crow & Son Funeral Home, with burial in the Bowles #3 Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Tuesday and Wednesday morning until time for the service at the funeral home.

Military honors will be provided at the cemetery by DAV Chapter #20

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Bowles Cemetery. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.