Robert Kelly Bowden, 74, of Vero Beach, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on May 5, 2016, at VNA Hospcie House.
He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years ,Sandra; his daughter Deborah Terry (Bill); grandson Conner; son Rob (Linda) and granddaughter Isabella, all of Vero Beach; sister Patsye King of Treasure Island; brother Warren Bowden (Jocelyn) of Simi Valley, Calif.; and many nieces and nephews. He will be forever in our hearts.
Bowden was born in Lakeland, Fla., on June 14, 1941, the son of Arthur and Idelle Kelly Bowden. He grew up in Lakeland, graduated from Lakeland High School and from Florida Southern College with a Bachelor of Science in Citrus.
He married his college sweetheart, Sandra Lay Bowden. He enjoyed a career in the Citrus industry for more than 40 years and owned Bowden Groves. He was a “man of the land” who enjoyed fishing and hunting all of his life.
Bowden was a farmer who over the years grew Indian River grapefruit, tomatoes cucumbers and peppers with Scott & Mattson, lemons in Devil’s Garden, grapefruit and oranges in Abaco and Andros, Bahamas. He was a member of various citrus organizations, and over the years, he worked with South Puerto Rico Sugar, Fellsmere Farms, Gulf and Western, Scott & Mattson, Leslie Scott and family. He served on the Board of Directors of Seal Sweet and Orange Avenue Growers Association.
He was a hard-working, honest and good man who possessed the love of his family like no other. He was a member of Christ By The Sea United Methodist Church.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 9, 2016 at Christ By The Sea United Methodist Church, 3755 Highway A1A, Vero Beach, Florida 32963. Burial following at Crestlawn Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to support Christ By the Sea Methodist Church, Vero Beach, Florida or VNA Hospice House, Vero Beach, Florida. Arrangements are under the direction of Strunk Funeral Home, Vero Beach.
An online guest book may be signed at www.strunkfuneralhome.com.
