Jeffrey K. Bowen

Jeffrey K. Bowen, 68, owner of the Portland Clock Doc shop, died Sept. 2, 2022, at Lutheran Hospital, where he was being treated for cancer. He opened the clock repair business in 2015 after spending decades working in local factories, often as a supervisor. His employers included Bailey Seed Farms, Alphabet, and Accelerated Curing Inc.

Jeff devoted many hours to the Portland Breakfast Optimist Club’s activities, especially the Jay County Queen Contest and its food fundraisers after joining. He was named the Rookie of the Year and then became the club president a few years later. Always enjoying humor, Jeff opened each meeting with a joke or funny story during his two terms as president.

He was also a member of the Portland I.O.O.F. Lodge 281 Omega and active in several Alcoholics Anonymous groups and Al-Anon in addition to serving as a board member of the Jay County Historical Society for many years.

He was born Aug. 27, 1954, in Portland to Roger and Luetta Bowen, the third of six children.

After graduating from Portland High School in 1972, Jeff started his college years at Vincennes University, then transferred to Ball State University. However, he dropped out when he couldn’t decide on a career path.

He found clock repair to be an option and graduated from Gem City College of Horology in Quincy, Ill., in 1977. He worked in clock shops in Fort Wayne and Zionsville, Ind., but wanted something more. Surprising everyone, he joined the Peace Corps and spent two years in rural Dominican Republic. Afterwards he returned to college and graduated from Purdue University in 1984 with a degree in international agriculture.

Jeff is survived by his two children, Thomas of Portland and Laura of Colorado Springs, Colo., and his mother, Luetta Bowen, also of Portland. His siblings are Pamela Burks of Fishers; Kathy Stolz of Franklin; Douglas of Greeley, Colo.; Mark of Falls Church, Va.; and Todd of Evanston, Ill. Also surviving is Teresa Ely Bowen, his former wife, and six nieces and nephews. His father died in 2020.

A memorial service will be held Saturday September 10, 2022, at 3pm, at the Williamson, Spencer, & Penrod Funeral Home in Portland. Visitation will be 1pm - 3pm on Saturday at the funeral home. We would like to acknowledge his memory not with gifts but with memories. If you would like to make a donation, please make it in his memory to the Jay County Historical Society.

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