Billy Allen Bowden

Ronceverte – Billy Allen Bowden, 87, passed away Sunday, Apr. 9, 2023, at the White Sulphur Springs Center.
Billy was born Mar. 11, 1936, in Ronceverte to the late Earl William and Lena Mae Sams Bowden.
He was a very kind hearted man who would give you the shirt off his back. He loved animals and fishing, but his greatest love was his banjo. Billy was an outstanding self-taught banjo player and a member of the former West Virginia Bluegrass Connection. He received several awards through the years for his banjo playing. In 1994, the band received an Achievement Award for Outstanding Performance at the Virginia State Fair. In 1998, they received the Distinguished West Virginia Awards from Governor Cecil Underwood. They opened and performed with several professional singers such as Alison Krauss and Union Station, Del McCoury, Seldom Scene, Johnny Paycheck, The Whites, The Lewis Family, Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys, Charlie Waller and The Country Gentleman, Ralph Stanley and Bill Monroe. Billy was retired from the City of Ronceverte.
Other than his parents, Billy was preceded in death by an infant sister, Artie Rose Bowden; infant brother, Douglas McArthur Bowden; and brother, Lester Earl Bowden, Sr.
Survivors include daughter, Loretta Tate (Steve) and son, Billy Allen Bowden, Jr. (Monica) of Idaho; four grandchildren, Maggie Bowden, Matt Bromeling, Jena Ramsey, and Trevor Ramsey; sister-in-law, Elizabeth Bowden (Mrs. Boo) of Ronceverte; nieces, Drema Persinger and husband Curtis of Caldwell, Melissa Bowden of Caldwell and Rebecca Gibson and husband Michael of Buchanan, VA; nephews, Lester Bowden, Jr. and wife Angie of Lewisburg and Christopher Bowden and wife Karen of Pickaway; great nieces and nephews, Curtis Persinger, Jr. and wife Becky, Lindsey Windon and husband Justin, Ezra Tincher, III, Joshua Tincher, Gabriel Gibson, Gabrielle Wood and husband Griff, Karissa Bowden, and Kassidy Bowden; great-great-nieces and nephews, Ellie Persinger, Mollie Persinger, Hunter Windon and Hadley Windon; and great-great-great nephew, Nolan Winnings.
A graveside service was held on Thursday, Apr. 13, in the Elizabeth Chapel Cemetery at Organ Cave.
Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home in Ronceverte is in charge of arrangements. Please send online condolences by visiting www.WallaceandWallaceFH.com