Norman Wayne Bowen, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and lifelong Mississippian stepped into eternal glory on July 26, 2026, surrounded by loved ones. Always with a distinguished presence he was known to most as “Norman”, to a few as “Norm”, and to his closest family as “PawPaw”.
He was born November 12, 1942, to Ruble Bowen and Julia Ray Dabbs Bowen. He had one brother, Hoyt, and one sister, Peggy. He was raised on an eighty-acre family farm just outside Smithville, Mississippi where he graduated high school in 1960. After graduation he attended Mississippi State University where he earned a BS degree in Accounting.
In 1964, Norman married Grace Annette Minor of Amory, Mississippi. They were blessed with two sons, Russell Wayne Bowen and Norman Wesley Bowen.
After marrying, they moved to Memphis, Tennessee where Norman started his career with Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. (currently KPMG), a national accounting firm. After three years, to get back closer to home, they moved to Tupelo and he began work for Bank of Mississippi (which became BancorpSouth, Cadence Bank, and most recently, Huntington Bank). He established the Audit Department at the bank, becoming the bank’s first internal auditor.
Norman was known for his integrity, wisdom, consistency, and meticulous eye at work. During his career, he was instrumental in setting up and managing several new functions and services within the bank. Early in his career, he attended the Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University. He retired as Executive Vice-President of BancorpSouth in 2011.
Norman was instrumental in establishing the Northeast Mississippi Chapter of the National Association of Accountants and served as its first President. Through the years he was a member of various civic clubs. He was a long-time member of Parkway Baptist Church where he served in various capacities including several terms as Chairman of the Finance Committee while also being an ever-present greeter at the door.
Norman’s love of travel was born as a young boy on a simple farm, wondering what else must be out there in the world God had created. That curiosity carried him to forty-nine states (he never made it to North Dakota), Canada, and numerous European countries over his lifetime.
Over a ten-year period, he and his Harley Davidson riding partner, Mitch Waycaster, logged over sixty thousand miles riding motorcycles across the U.S. and Canada. Trading their formal bank suits for riding jackets and the freedom of the open road was a joy both men cherished.
From 2010 until 2018, Norman and Annette, along with travel friends Dal and Peggy Eckard, traveled overseas to numerous European countries. After seeing so much of the world, Norman settled on Alaska as his favorite destination of all.
In addition to always being present for his family, Norman enjoyed fishing with his two sons and his brother. He was an incredible wing shooter, an avid rafter of rivers out west, a talented slalom water skier, a boating enthusiast, a gifted wood worker, a master gardener, and a dog lover.
Norman is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Annette; two sons, Russ (Carla), Wes (Susan); three grandsons, William (Holly), John, and Stephen; two granddaughters, Caroline (Jeffrey) and Hannah; nephew Mike (Becky) and niece Angela Dennis and their families. Also survived by brothers-in-law, Lloyd (Peggy) and Lamar (Rorie) Minor and their families.
Norman was preceded in death by his parents Ruble and Julia Ray, his brother Hoyt, his sister-in-law Mary, his sister Peggy Moore, nephews Mark Bowen, Scott Moore, and Don Moore; a great nephew, Mik Bowen; and a brother-in-law, Jimmy Minor.
Services will be held at 2 PM on Thursday, July 30, 2026, at Holland Funeral Directors-Tupelo location. Visitation will be from noon to service time on Thursday. Norman will be laid to rest at Tupelo Memorial Park following the services. The services will be officiated by Lloyd Minor, Jesse Huggins, and Cory Hays. Holland Funeral Directors are honored to be serving the friends and family.
Pallbearers will be Russ Bowen, Wes Bowen, William Bowen, Stephen Bowen, John Bowen, Jerry Scruggs, Jay Scruggs, and Larry Coggin. Honorary pallbearers Mitch Waycaster, Charlie Greer, W.O. Jones, Gary Walker, Dal Eckard, and the Parkway Baptist Church Men’s #2 Sunday School Class.
Memorials may be made to Parkway Baptist Church. A special thank you to North Mississippi Health Services and to the donors, board, and staff of Sanctuary Hospice House for their incredible, loving care for Norman in his last days.
Norman will be remembered for his integrity, his love of the open road, his wit, and his devotion to his family.
