Bertrand Mo: Lester Vance Bowles 10/9/41 - 9/13/21

Lester Vance Bowles

Born in Sikeston MO, to R.V. and Delores (Sellers) Bowles on October 9, 1941, as a small boy he helped with his grandfather's portable saw mill which operated between Bertrand and the Commerce area, he then moved with his parents to Liberty MO in 1952.

On April 2, 1988.  he married Beverly McConkey, who survives of the home. Other than his parents.  he was preceded in death by three brothers, Ronald Vernon Bowles (infant), Tillman Ray Bowles and Roger Allen Bowles, both of the KC area, leaving behind one surviving brother, Victor Wesley Bowles of Bertrand.

In May of 1959, shortly after high school he joined the Marines, something he was immensely proud of. He dedicated himself to a career in the military and traveled the globe; during the Vietnam War he served two tours of duty as a crew chief/door gunner in a Marine helicopter. He was shot down twice, and sustained injuries to both knees which plagued him for the rest of his life, he reached the rank of E5 before being honorably discharged in February of 1968.

When he returned to civilian life, he attained his pilot's license and nearly pursued a career in crop dusting, instead he spent the next 20 years as a dump truck owner/operator, and an over the road truck driver. In 1986 he opened a small mom and pop video store named "Video Plus" in Lathrop MO, during his downtime he taught himself how to repair VCRs, as well as building and programming computers from scratch. In 2013 he retired and moved back to Bertrand, with his wife Beverly. He was a lifelong KC Chiefs fan.

He was a father to nine children, Steven (Laura) Bowles, Bobbie Lynn Bowles, Janice (Butch) Hopkins, James Williams, Christine (David) Centers, Jerry (Lindsey) Calvert, Andy (Cindy) Calvert, Stephen (Angela) McConkey, and Stephanie (Christian) French. A multitude of grand and great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m., Friday, September 17, 2021, at the McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston.   Cremation will follow.

Online condolences may be shared at www.mcmiklefuneralhome.com