Obituary of Donald Bowden

Donald Bowden lived a life full of love and laughter and went home to be with the LORD on Saturday, May 3, 2014. Donald was born in Faison, NC on June 10, 1937 to John Moses Bowden and Agatha Newell Bowden. In the tradition of the family, he was baptized as a youngster, grew up in the Church and was educated in the Duplin and Wayne County school systems. Growing up, Donald spent most of his time with his family and extended family on the family owned farms in Faison, North Carolina and Mount Olive, North Carolina and learned the trade of carpentry from his father and grandfather. In 1955, the family moved from North Carolina to Long Island where Donald met and married Ernestine Mattox in 1959. Donald and ET established their home and began their family on Long Island and to them was born a son Vonald, and a daughter Crystal Sabrena. In the 1960s, Donald moved his family to be near his sister Ida Laura in Washington, DC and Oxon Hill, Maryland and became a well known and proud entrepreneur in many business ventures there. In the later years, Donald moved the family back to Amityville, to the "FAMILY HOME" at 8 Avon Drive, where he could be found either cooking up a grand feast for the family, showing off his skills as a barber or at the Mount Clear Baptist Church where he regularly attended and various other Baptist Churches in the area. Donald was known for his love of music and loved to play the harmonica and the saxophone. Above all, Donald loved his family first as he would share stories with the children about life in North Carolina and stories about the proud heritage of the Bowdens, stressing the value of Family and in getting an Education. Over the years, Donald was a trusted companion to Ernestine, a dedicated father, a supportive grandfather, a respected great-grandfather, a best cousin, a favorite uncle, and a dear friend to many, helping anyone that he could along the way. Donald was preceded in death by his parents John Moses and Agatha, his son Vonald, his sisters and brothers and his grandson Ronald Max. Donald is survived by his beloved wife Ernestine of Amityville, NY; three sons, Arnie, Kevin and Anthony; three daughters, Shirl, Crystal Sabrena and NaDonna; two grandsons of the home Christopher and William; one grandson from Georgia; two grandsons from Mississippi; one granddaughter from Memphis, TN; one granddaughter from Georgia; one granddaughter from Mississippi; two great granddaughters from Maryland and a host of nieces and nephews. LOVINGLY SUBMITTED BY THE FAMILY