Williene Bowden, 89, of Elkhart, died on Thursday, May 19, 2022 at home.

Willie was born on February 10, 1933 in Barton, AR to the late James and Patricia (Wright) Brown.  She is survived by extended family including her aunts, Oddie Riley of Elkhart and Mae Simon of Chicago as well as a host of cousins.

Willie married James Bowden Jr. on March 18, 1972 in Chicago.  James died on March 19, 1996.

She was employed as an inspector for Honeywell for 17 years.  She then worked for several years for Performance Plus, Inc. a cleaning business.  She eventually began cleaning at the Hartzler-Gutermuth-Inman Funeral Home, a job she thoroughly enjoyed.  Willie was also a former member of the Canaan Baptist Church in Elkhart.

Visitation will be held on Friday, May 27, 2022 from 12 noon until the hour of the service at 1:00 p.m. all at Hartzler-Gutermuth-Inman Funeral Home.  The Rev. Danny Brown will officiate and Willie will be laid to rest next to her James at Rice Cemetery.