Rev. Donald Randolph Bowles

Bowles, Rev. Donald Randolph (Don), 83, of the Welch-Pineville Road, passed away on Thursday, August 2, 2018. He was reunited in heaven with his son Duke who had passed on February 8, 1976.
Donald, an evangelist and coal miner, retired from U.S. Steel number 50 mines in 1997, where he worked as a Roof Bolter. He ministered over the airwaves of WXEE radio station by “The Way of the Cross” program every Sunday morning for 18 years. He was a huge Dale Earnhardt Sr. fan and enjoyed watching NASCAR. A man who could fix just about anything, he took great pride in helping his friends and family. In the early years, he loved spending time with his daughter working on cars. An avid storyteller, he loved to reminisce about his experiences as a Marine, time spent in Korea during the war, and especially growing up with his brothers on Belcher Mountain. He was deeply in love with his wife Delores and loved telling the story of how they met. He always said that a way to a man’s heart was through his stomach and he knew he was going to marry Delores with the very first sandwich she made him.
Family meant everything to Donald and he made it his mission to keep his wife happy and his family together. He provided so much love and laughter and taught many life lessons, from how to change the oil in your car to recovering from a broken heart. He had a comforting presence and when you were with him, you felt safe, secure, and nothing else mattered. As a term of endearment, he loved to nickname his grandkids Angel Baby, Tongue Mouth, Tongue and Groove, Charlie Duck, Hooter Mouth, Sweet Heart Darling, Speedy Wicker Bill, Jack O Lantern, Rodchester, Tink, and Benjamin Franklin.
He was preceded in death by son Donald (Duke) R. Bowles Jr; father, Frank Edward Bowles; mother, Mary Aline Bowles; and siblings, Harold, Ronald, Retha, Janice and Richard (Dicky) Bowles.
Donald fought Alzheimer’s like a warrior for eight years and is survived by his wife, Delores; daughter, Donna Bedwell and husband Edd; grandchildren, Heather Myers and husband Mark, Joshua Hendricks and wife Rachel, Jeremy Hendricks and fiancé Kristin, Rachael Torres and husband Mike, Brent Sherrick, Alicia Sherrick, and Nicholas Sherrick; great grandchildren, Sara, Kaydance, Baylee, Sam, Olivia, Ben, Ryleigh, and Auggie; siblings, Frank (Red) W. Bowles Jr. and wife Katia, Philip R. Bowles and wife Linda, David L. Bowles and wife Diane, Debbie A. Rose and husband John, Danny L. Bowles and wife Virginia; and several nieces and nephews. 
Funeral services will be conducted on Monday, August 6, 2018 at 1:00 PM at the Cravens-Shires Funeral Home Chapel in Bluewell with Rev. Scott Cline officiating. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Bluewell with family and friends serving as pallbearers. Military honors will be performed by the Mercer County Veterans Honor Guard.
Friends may call on Sunday evening at the Indian Creek Community Church on the Welch Pineville Road from 6-8PM.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Indian Creek Community Church.
Online condolences will be accepted at www.cravens-shires.com. Cravens-Shires Funeral Home in Bluewell is serving the family.