Gerald (Jerry) Dan Bowen passed away on January 23, 2016 following an illness with Melanoma. He is survived by his wife of fifty years, Barbara Clements Bowen; father-in-law Jesse Clements; sister-in-law Becky Millican (Kent); nephew, Shay Harrell (Tina), Ben and Zella; niece Jolee Gray (Davy), Ramplee and Bex; sister, Anne G. Townes; brother, Cliff Green (Linda); sister, Jean Mobley (Aldine); sister, Marie Kennason; brother, Lonnie Williams (Debbie); God daughter, Yuri Melendez (Willie), Juliana and Iris.

Jerry was born in Duvall County, Florida and lived in Waycross, Georgia until his junior year in high school when he transferred to Mount Berry School for Boys, Rome Georgia. Following graduation from high school, Jerry served the United States Marine Corps from June 1960 until June 1964. He was a member of Marine Helicopter Squadron HMM-261 that off-loaded the first U.S. troops in Vietnam in May 1962.

Jerry received his Master's Degree in School Administration and worked in Polk School District from 1970-1977. He specialized in school finance and school facility planning and construction. He was a member of the Georgia State Department Education Team that developed and implemented a new Capital Outlay Program for the state of Georgia in 1980. He served as Director of Planning and Construction for Cobb County School District from 1983-1985. He was employed as a consultant to a number of school systems throughout Georgia during the 1980's. He served his last six years in education in the Dekalb County School System as Administrative Assistant to the Director of Administrative Services and retired in June 2003.

Since his retirement, he assisted Barbara with her Bank Travel Program. He was past Secretary-Treasurer and past President of the Optimist Club of Cedartown, and past Secretary and past President of the Southeast Region Council of Educational Facilities Planners.

Jerry believed in and supported the three most important social institutions in a community: religion, education, and civic clubs. He is a member of First Baptist Church of Cedartown, Ga.

Jerry's body will be cremated. The family will receive friends on Sunday, January 24, 2016 from noon to two o'clock in the First Baptist Church sanctuary. A Celebration of Life will be held beginning at two o'clock with Dr. David Taylor and Rev. Wayne Benefield officiating.

The family requests that In lieu of flowers, contributions can to be made to the First Baptist Church General Fund. The Olin L. Gammage Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for Mr. Gerald (Jerry) Dan Bowen.