Obit of Bowling, Jess "Pooch" - Caddo County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Gene Phillips 17 Feb 2008 Return to Caddo County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/caddo/caddo.html ===================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ===================================================================== ::Dos Palos Cemetery--Dos Palos CA Bowling, Jess "Pooch" Jess "Pooch" Bowling passed away peacefully Wednesday, April 18, 2007. He was 82. Jess was born August 23, 1924 in Binger, Oklahoma. His family relocated to Dos Palos in 1936 when Jess was 11 years old. He attended the local schools, then married Darlene Dorrell in 1945. Jess began his career in law enforcement in 1953, working briefly for the Dos Palos Police Department. He moved his family to Atwater when he began working for the Atwater Police Department. His love of Dos Palos brought him back in 1958. He worked as a resident Deputy for the Merced Co. Sheriff's Department, working the Westside. He was promoted to Sergeant in Command of the new Los Banos sub-station in 1962, then to Lieutenant in 1966. He was appointed Undersheriff in 1973 and in August of 1974, and was named Acting Sheriff. Jess was elected as Sheriff in 1975 and re-elected in 1978. While with the Sheriff's department, Pooch was instrumental in improvements within the department. He was the first canine handler when he partnered with a large German shepherd named Jim. The department began the county's first 24 hour patrol, organized a special narcotics investigation team, began a countywide crime prevention program, created the work furlough program for prisoners and improved the jail communication system. Sadly, in 1980, Pooch, for health reasons had to retire from the career that he loved. At the time of his death, he was the oldest living retired sheriff in Merced County. His key phrase was "don't you know Okies' are tough" and he proved that to be true. Pooch was a former Kiwanis club member, a member of the Odd Fellows Santa Rita Lodge #124, the "Y" Service Club, Retired Sheriff's Association and Emmanuel Southern Baptist Church of Dos Palos. Pooch lived out the remainder of his life with his family and friends. He will be loved and deeply missed. His loving wife of 51 years, Darlene preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by his son, Michael Bowling, his daughter, Sharlynn Crutcher a grandson Hud Foley, a brother, Gene Bowling and two sisters, Frances Bondini and Heloise Drake. He is survived by one daughter, Shirley Foley of Los Banos, CA, one brother, Jack Bowling of Atwater, CA, three grandchildren, Talisha Zorra of Los Banos, Aaron Crutcher of Anchorage, Alaska and Lance Crutcher of Merced, CA and 15 great-grandchildren. He also leaves many dear friends. A visitation will be held at Whitehurst Funeral Chapel Dos Palos on Wednesday, April 25th from 5 - 7pm. Funeral services will be held Thursday, April 26th at 10am at Whitehurst Funeral Chapel in Dos Palos. Mr. Bowling will be laid to rest at the Dos Palos District Cemetery. Remembrances may be made to New Bethany Nursing & Rehab; 1441 Berkeley Drive, Los Banos, CA 93635 or to Emmanuel Southern Baptist Church; 1701 Leonard St.; Dos Palos, CA 93620. Published in the Merced Sun Star on 4/20/2007. ========= Jess Pooch Bowling passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 18, 2007, at New Bethany Nursing & Rehab. in Los Banos, California. He was born on August 23, 1924, in Binger, Oklahoma and has been a Dos Palos resident since 1936. Jess worked in law enforcement as a Merced County Sheriff, retiring in 1980. He was a member of the Emmanuel Southern Baptist Church in Dos Palos, the Y Service Club, Odd Fellows Santa Rita Lodge #124, and Retired Sheriff's Assoc-iation, a former Kiwanian, and was active in the Senior Citizen Center in Dos Palos.He was preceded in death by his wife Darlene; a son Michael; a daughter, Sharlynn Crutcher; a grandson, Hud Foley; a brother, Gene Bowling; and two sisters, Frances Bondini and Heloise Drake.Jess is survived by a daughter, Shirley Foley of Los Banos, California; one brother, Jack Bowling of Atwater, California; three grandchildren, Talisha Zor-ra of Los Banos, Aaron Crutcher of Anchorage, Alaska and Lance Crutcher of Merced, California; and 15 great-grandchildren.A Visitation will be held at Whitehurst Funeral Chapel Dos Palos on Wednesday, April 25, 2007, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.A Funeral Service will be held at Whitehurst Funeral Chapel Dos Palos on Thursday, April 26, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. Jess will be laid to rest in Dos Palos District Cemetery.Remembrances may be made to New Bethany Nursing & Rehab., 1441 Berkeley Dr., Los Banos, Ca 93635 or Emmanuel Southern Baptist Church, 1701 Leonard St., Dos Palos, Ca 93620. Published in the Fresno Bee on 4/21/2007. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Caddo County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/caddo/caddo.html