Leslie Granville Bowden

Les Bowden, 71, of Sanford, Florida, went home to be with the Lord on April 17, 2025, after a courageous battle with cancer. Les was born in Belfast, Maine on April 16, 1954 to Granville and Betty Bowden. Les spent most of his childhood in Maine. He loved playing football and baseball. His Senior year in high school, he and his parents moved to Manaus, Brazil, as missionaries. He attended a boarding school, where he met Deborah Jackson, his future wife. They were married on December 20, 1974 in Sterling Heights, Michigan. They returned to Brazil as missionaries with two young children in 1979. Together they served the Lord at a missionary boarding school for 30 years. Les and Debbie provided a nurturing home to missionary children whose parents served in remote villages. They loved these children like their own. Les enjoyed taking the kids swimming and fishing in the Amazon River and on hikes in the jungle. He enjoyed reading stories from the Bible to the kids and teaching them songs about Jesus. In 2008, Les and Debbie moved to Sanford, Florida, due to health issues, where they continued to joyfully serve the Lord at an Assisted Living Facility for retired missionaries, by cooking delicious meals. Les especially enjoyed making people smile with his fancy desserts. They were very involved at Central Baptist Church where they enjoyed serving in Awana and teaching Sunday School. Les also developed a love of running and ran 9 half marathons, completing his first at the age of 57. Les was a loving husband to Debbie, a dedicated father to 5 daughters and a very engaged Grandpa to 14 grandkids. Les faithfully prayed daily for each of his kids and grandkids. Les was confident about where he was going after he died, not based on the good things he had done throughout his life, but based on his belief in the finished work of Christ on the cross. Les is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Debbie; his 5 children: Kim (Justin) of Arlington, TX; Christy (Ted) of Ewing, NE; Katie (Wes) of Cleveland, OH; Carolyn (Ryan) Seneca, SC and Kandi (Joe) Brazil; his brothers Kerri (Diane) and Mark, and sister Karen. A celebration of life will be held for Les on June 11th in Sanford, FL. Time and location TBD.

Leslie Granville Bowden

April 16, 1954 - April 17, 2025