Bowen A. Rogers

Memorial Graveside ServiceMonday May 14, 20122:00 pmAntioch Cemetery Bowen Allen Rogers peacefully passed from this life on May 12, 2012, at age 91. A memorial graveside service will be held 2:00 p.m. Monday May 14, 2012 at the Antioch Cemetery near Bowling Green. He was born on the Rogers’ family farm in rural Pike County, Missouri, to Claude and Christina Bowen Rogers on January 31, 1921. His parents preceded him in death. Bowen was educated in Cyrene through the 8th grade. He attended Bowling Green High School while living with his grandparents, James and Mary Rogers, in Bowling Green. His first job was as a soda jerk in the local drugstore. He continued farming with his father during weekends and summers. In 1939, after graduating from Bowling Green High School, he hitchhiked east to visit the Yankee and Dodgers’ training camps as baseball was a lifelong passion for him. Bowen’s other interests were collecting Indian artifacts since 1933 and his rock collection. He also maintained an extensive reference library and was well versed in many subjects. In 1941, one day after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Bowen placed his name on a waiting list for induction into the United States Navy. The U. S. Navy placed him in its prestigious V12 program, educating him at Berea College in Kentucky and Northwestern University in Chicago in mathematics and physics. His graduation ceremony was held at Navy Pier in Chicago. He attained the rank of 1st Lt. The Navy placed Bowen on reserve duty status in 1946. The Navy did not fully discharge him until 1957 due to his extensive education and naval training. During his studies at Berea College, he met Virginia Tenhover of Cincinnati, Ohio. They were married in 1948. They settled in Cincinnati where Bowen was a businessman. In 1962, Bowen decided to return to farming in Pike County, Missouri. For over 30 years, Bowen enjoyed researching genealogy and history. He traveled the Midwest on research trips to libraries, archives, courthouses and cemeteries. He published several genealogical/historical articles. Other genealogists and historians from around the United States visited Bowen to obtain historical information due to his generosity sharing his work. Much of his research centered on many of the early Pike County pioneers. Therefore, his records will be placed in the Western Manuscripts’ permanent collection at Ellis Library, University of Missouri-Columbia, for all future genealogists and historians to enjoy. He is survived by a daughter, Daryl Rogers and her husband, Oliver Schuchard, of Holts Summit, a son, David Rogers, of rural Bowling Green, granddaughters Pam Blake (Kevin), of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, and Kim Charlton (Ken) of Bowling Green, and great-granddaughters Ellie Blake, Kaycee and Madelyn Charlton. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Those preceding him in death besides his parents were his sisters; Mary Gaw, Ruth Edmond, Naomi Froling, and one brother, Robert Rogers. Donations may be made to the Antioch Cemetery Association, the Pike County Hospice, or the Bowling Green Genealogical Society.