Victor Gary Bowen

St. George, Utah – Victor Gary Bowen, 83, passed away Monday, January 30, 2023. Gary was born October 7, 1939, in American Fork, Utah to Victor Bowen and Helene La June Smith Bowen. He married Afton Kingsford, April 13, 1962, in Casper, Wyoming.
Gary grew up in Great Falls, Montana. He learned to work hard, delivering newspapers through the cold Montana winters, and earning his Eagle Scout rank. He enjoyed music and dancing. He played the violin and sang in vocal groups.
After high school, Gary attended Brigham Young University where he joined the BYU Folk Dancers. With the Folk Dancers, Gary was partnered up with an attractive young woman, named Afton. Ultimately, they became partners for life.
Just before, getting married, Gary joined the Air Force, which led to 20 years of adventure for the couple and their three children. They saw much of the U.S., living in seven different states. They spent four wonderful years in Madrid Spain, from where they were able to see much of Western Europe and Morocco.
While in the Air Force, Gary finished his bachelor’s degree at the University of Arizona and his master’s degree at Temple University in Philadelphia. With his education he served many years in the Air Force as the Officer in Charge of various hospital laboratories.
After 20 years of service, Gary retired from the Air Force and he and Afton settled in Las Vegas, Nevada. Gary went back to school to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where he followed the footsteps of his two sons, Scott and Paul, by becoming a software developer. With his new skills he joined Clark County where he spent many years working on the County’s payroll system.
While living in Las Vegas, Gary and Afton continued to travel, taking cruises, visiting Europe, and spending time in Hawaii with his daughter Shawna and her children. Eventually, Gary retired from the County and when Afton’s health began to fail, they relocated to St. George, Utah, where Afton passed away in 2017.
Gary is survived by his son Paul and his wife Claudia, living in Smithfield Utah, daughter Shawna living in St. George, Utah; son Scott and his wife April living in Riverton, Utah; grandchildren Tamera, Andrew, Eric, Jasmine, Raven, Carlos, Bryan, Jennifer, David, Allie, Wesley, Kelly, and Chelsie; brother Fred, living in Lethbridge, Alberta, sister Jill, living in Sunset, Utah; 22 great grandchildren and 2 great, great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife Afton and parents Victor and Helene.
Friends may call on Thursday, February 9th, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm, at the Spilsbury Mortuary, 100 S. Bluff Street, St. George Utah, or on Friday, February 10th, from 10:30 am – 11:30 am, at the Utah Veterans Memorial Cemetery Chapel, 17111 S Camp Williams Road, Bluffdale, Utah 84065. Interment will take place in the Utah Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Camp Williams.
Arrangements are made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 100 S. Bluff St., St. George Utah, (435) 673-2454. Family and friends are invited to leave a memory on Gary’s obituary page at www.spilsburymorutary.com