He was a native of Laurel County and had been a resident of Lynch since 1930. He was a retired coal miner and a member of the UMWA. He was a member of the Lynch United Methodist Church.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Hattie Brotherton Bowling; his parents, Charlie and Rosa Proffitt Bowling; a daughter, Hazel Bowling; and two sons, Bobby Gene Bowling and Eugene Bowling.

Survivors include five children: Dorothy Gibson and husband, Ed, Lynch; Charles Bowling and wife, Sharon, Cumberland; Lois Hodges, Hunnington Beach, Calif.; Kimberly Cornett and husband, Delmas, Cumberland; and Bobby Bowling and wife, Tina, Lynch; two brothers, Ted Bowling, Neville, Ohio; and Glenn Bowling, East Bernstadt; eight grandchildren: Pvt. Michael Cornett, Christopher Cornett, Melissa Metcalfe, Mark Bowling, Heidi Brooks, Brandi Jones, Bobby Bowling and Cody Maggard; and three great-grandchildren: Amber Bowling, LeAnne Bowling and Katherine Brooks.

Visitation will be held Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. at Tri City Funeral Home in Benham.

Funeral services will be conducted Saturday at the funeral home at 11 a.m. with Pastor Hugh Webb officiating.

Interment will follow in Peaceful Acres Cemetery in Hiram.

Pallbearers will be Bob Lunsford, Eugene Wilder, Jimmy Scott, Don Allen, Jeff Boggs and Hal Woods.

Tri-City Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.