James Lester “Jimmy” Gowins Jr., 79, of Aberdeen, died Tuesday, June 12, 2012, at Manor Care of Pinehurst.
Funeral services will be conducted at 5 p.m. Sunday, June 17, at the Southside Baptist Church, with Rev. Chris McNeill officiating. Interment, with military honors, will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 19, at the Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery, in Spring Lake. The family will receive friends from 4 to 5 p.m. Sunday, prior to the service at the church.
Jimmy was born Sept. 26, 1932, in Archibald, La., to the late James L. Sr. and Lois Irene Burkett Gowins. He served in the Korean conflict, in the U.S. Marine Corps. He worked in tire manufacturing and retired to Moore County from Milan, Ga. He was a member of the VFW and AMVETS.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Bonnie Miner Gowins, of Aberdeen; a son, Steven Mitchell Gowins, of Eagle, Alaska; two daughters, Deborah Pamela Martin, of Sturky, Ark., Donna Cecile Matteson, of Raeford; a brother, John Stanley Gowins, of Vidalia, La.; two sisters, Barbara Jean White, of Hattiesburg, Miss., and Marcie Irene Gaubert, of Thibodeaux, La.; nine grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Samaritan’s Purse, c/o Southside Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1501, Vass, NC 28394.
Russell-Marks Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Rockingham is assisting the family.