Lola Faye (Moses) Bowden, a teacher, wife, mother, daughter, grandmother, aunt, friend and citizen par excellence, who made room in her heart and life for anyone who was hurting, lost, or abandoned, passed away March 2, 2026 after a struggle with Alzheimer’s and Dementia. She was 80 years old.
Lola Faye was born May 27, 1945, to Rowland Douglas and Lola Maye (Hamilton) Moses in Robstown, Texas. As the daughter of a cotton ginner, she grew up all over south Texas and graduated from Robstown High School in 1963. She began her college life at Wharton County Junior College where she was a member of the world renowned Starlettes high kick precision drill team then attended Stephen F. Austin State College in Nacogdoches, Texas before eventually finishing her Bachelor of Science in Education as a “mature” student at Texas A&M University – Kingsville.
She married the love of her life, Gary, on December 2, 1967, and soon after began the life of a Navy Wife, traveling the globe with Gary and their children as they supported Gary while he defended our country against enemies, both foreign and domestic.
Lola Faye was all about her family, those related to her by blood and those related to her by love. She leaves behind a legacy of tenderness and service to others, something she showed not just to her friends, family, and anyone in need, but to the hundreds of children she taught 8th grade English and Reading to at Memorial Middle School in Kingsville.
She is proceeded in death by her father, Rowland Douglass Moses, Sr., her mother, Lola Maye (Hamilton) Moses, her mother-in-law Willa Bess (Bain) Bowden, sister-in-law Laurah (Bowden-Armistead) Ferguson West Jackson, and nephews Kenneth Ferguson and Dan West.
She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Command Master Chief Gary Bowden (United State Navy, Retired) of Burnet, her son Mance Bowden of Burnet, her daughters Michelle (Bowden) McCoy and son-in-law Doyle of Hutto, Nicole Bowden and Dannielle Bowden (both of Manor), her grandchildren, Katie McCoy of Austin and LD McCoy and his wife Heidi (Lundquist) of Leander, brother Doug Moses and wife Celeta of Wharton, nephew Danny Moses and wife Shannon of Wharton, nieces Rhea Ann Garza and husband Nick of Wharton, and Kathy West Robinson & husband Ricky of Iuka, MS, as well as great nieces & nephews Hailey Moses of Wharton, Caitlyn Moses of Houston, Colton Moses of Houston & Adam West and wife Terra Lynn of Colorado Springs, Co.
She leaves behind many relatives, family related by both blood and love, friends, and everyday people whose paths she crossed, and lives she touched by her kindness and overall zest for life.
Her family wishes to thank Ms. Lorena Salinas, Lola’s longtime friend, partner in crime, caretaker and confidant. You’re the closest thing to an older sister that the Bowden siblings have, Gary and Lola would not have survived the last 15 or so years without you. We also would like to thank the staff of Ascension Seton – Williamson County, the caregivers with Visiting Angels (Debbie and Christina)…and the staff of Lola’s favorite restaurant, El Charo-Burnet…especially Andrea and Ivan. Lola felt like a princess every time she ate there, and the kindness you have shown the Bowden family these last few years is unparalleled. Together all these people made Lola and her family feel loved, welcomed, and a part of a bigger family. Without them, Lola’s life would have been less than, and the family would have had a much harder time with her transition.
Visitation will be held Friday, March 20th from 5p-7p at Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home located at 306 East Polk Street, Burnet, Texas. A funeral will be held Saturday, March 21st at 10am at Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home located at 306 East Polk Street, Burnet, Texas. Burial will be Monday, March 23rd at 1pm at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery, 11463 State Highway 195, Killeen, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider donating in honor of Lola Faye to organizations to which she belonged and cherished:
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (Tax ID 53-020-4618)
Attn: Development Department
875 N. Randolph St, Suite 225
Arlington, VA 22203
Order of the Eastern Star – Chapter 162 (Aransas Pass)
PO Box 606
Aransas Pass, Texas 78336
The Kingsville Women’s Club – (Tax ID 74-606-2377)
PO Box 11
Kingsville, TX 78364
Cure Alzheimer’s Fund (Tax ID 52-239-6428)
Published by The Highlander from Mar. 4 to Mar. 18, 2026.
This obituary was published by Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home – Burnet.
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