George D. Bowens was born on January 27, 1947 in Akron, Ohio to George and Bea Bowens. He attended Bryan Elementary, West Junior High and South High School, where he ran track, played football and basketball, and was also the class president of South High School class of 1966. After high school he went to work for Goodyear Aerospace for several years, before becoming the first African American Ranger in Akron Metro Parks. He attended the police academy which gave him the expertise, skills, and knowledge of his trade, and his experience allotted him to give excellent and precise training to new rangers and trainees before retiring in 2005. He attended Akron University Police Instructional in advanced training in sensitivity and gang awareness. He also attended Cuyahoga Community College for Instructional in the understanding of mental illness which gave him the knowledge, understanding, and compassion in asserting people of all walks of life. George coached football for the Akron South Rangers and he was the past vice president of the Black Enforcement Association for Akron, Ohio. He was most proud of his DEA certificate in Gang Investigation and recognition from Youngstown State University, in which he was able to work with the Ohio Gang Conference for three years. George was a member of the Phoenix Lodge 112, Chapter No. 96 order of the Eastern Star, Al Kaf 109 and Bezaleel Consistory No. 15 and the Akron Urban League. He was inducted into the Akron South High School Hall of Fame in 2007 for community achievement. George was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Bruce Bowens. He is survived by brother, Thomas Bowens (Jimmy); son, Mitchell Bowens of Akron, Ohio; daughter, Dona Bowens of Barcelona, Spain; grandchildren, Dashawn Bowens and Trevon Bownes; cousins, Yvonne Ware of Omaha, Nebraska, Lisa Twitty of Columbus, Ohio and Karen Ellis of Fairlawn, Ohio; good friend, Reginald Connelly; and many other relatives and friends.
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