Helen Bowden

Helen Laura Bowden, 88, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2006, at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

She was born July 22, 1917, daughter of Clarence and Naomi Bess Hinkle of Cape Girardeau.

She and Ray A. Bowden were married Sept. 17, 1937. He died Aug. 9, 1967.

Mrs. Bowden was a graduate of Central High School. She worked at Saint Francis Medical Center and Internal Medicine Group before retiring in 1985.

She was a member of Maple United Methodist Church, UMW, Day Circle, and was a former Sunday school teacher.

Survivors include two daughters, Lawanna June Rehn of Fredericktown, Mo., Kay Ellen Eisenmann of Forked River, N.J.; a son, Dennis Ray Bowden of Parkville, Mo.; a brother, Roy V. Hinkle of Cape Girardeau; a sister, Evelyn M. Barker of Cape Girardeau; four grandchildren; five stepgrandchildren; two great-granddaughters; two great-stepgrandchildren.

She was preceded in death by three brothers, Howard H. Hinkle, Melvin Hinkle and an infant brother; a daughter-in-law; and a son-in-law.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Funeral Home.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Jim Cooper officiating. Burial will follow in Lorimier Cemetery.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Maple United Methodist Church Building Fund or American Lung Association.