A celebration of the life of Joseph M. "Joe" Bowden, 54 of Newark will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, March 23, 2012 in the Newark Chapel of Vensil & Chute Funeral Home.  Burial will be in Lutheran Cemetery.

Joe died Tuesday morning, March 20, 2012 at Licking Memorial Hospital. He was born November 4, 1957 in Newark to Jerry and Amy (Henzy) Bowden of Newark.  He was a 1976 graduate of Newark High School.  He was the owner of Bowden Construction Company. Joe was a member and past president of Buckeye Valley Building Industry Association.  He was an avid hunter and NASCAR fan.

In addition to his parents, Joe is survived by his wife of 34 years, Linda M. (Gilbreath) Bowden, who he married October 8, 1977; a son, Jeffrey M. (Angela) Bowden of Heath; a daughter, Joanna M. (Nick) Kelley of Twinsburg; grandchildren, Nicholas Kelley Jr., and Alyssa Kelley; brothers, John (Deb) Bowden of Ostrander, Jim (Paula) Bowden of Newark, Jake (Karen) Bowden of Heath; sisters, Cindy Bowden Gardner of Newark, and Sam (Mark) Cox of Westerville; father in-law, Dick Gilbreath of Utica; sister in-law, Lorraine Gilbreath Monroe of Worthington; 15 nieces and nephews; and 11 great nieces and nephews.

Friends and family may call 4:00p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, March 22, 2012 at VENSIL & CHUTE FUNERAL HOME, 1850 W. Main Street, Newark.