Person Page - 2845

     His Social Security Number was 226-30-6859.⁸ John Joseph Gowen was born on December 6, 1928 at Nelson Co., Virginia.^8,2,4,5 He married Clara Estelle Jones, daughter of Albert Lewis Jones and Leona Estelle Nash, on November 22, 1949 at Nelson Co., Virginia.¹ John Joseph Gowen died on November 18, 2009 at Lynchburg, Virginia, at age 80.^8,2 He John Joseph Gowen, 80, of Amherst, died Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009, at Lynchburg General Hospital. Born in Nelson County on Dec. 6, 1928, he was a son of the late Robert Lee and Hattie Tyree Gowen. He was retired from Bucher Rail and was a member of Amherst Church of God. Survivors include a special and devoted friend, Brenda Branham, and son, Travis Branham, of Monroe; three brothers, Robert Gowen, Garlan Gowen and Albert Gowen; three sisters, Rosa Mitchell, Mildred Tyree and Eliza McFadden; two grandchildren, Jeff Tyree and Kelly Lann; and four great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009, at the Amherst Church of God with the Rev. J.D. Mayberry officiating. Whitten Monelison Chapel is assisting the family. on November 28, 2009.²

     Clyde Wesley Custer was buried at Custer Cemetery, 7210 Miller Cove Road, Catawba, Roanoke Co., Virginia.³ His Social Security Number was 230-03-0906.⁴ He married Ruby Helen Gowen, daughter of Samuel Benjamin Gowen and Helen Estelle Goolsby.^1,2,3 Clyde Wesley Custer was born on December 13, 1919 at Roanoke Co., Virginia.^4,5,3 He died on October 3, 1995 at Salem, Roanoke Co., Virginia, at age 75.^2,4,3 He CUSTER, Clyde Wesley, 75, of Catawba, passed away Tuesday, October 3, 1995, at Lewis-Gale Hospital after an extended illness. He is survived by his loving wife, Ruby Gowen Custer; daughters and sons-in-law, Carolyn C. Webb, Catawba; Wanda and Philip Keffer, New Castle, Cathy and J. Lee Wall, Blacksburg, Ruth and Steve O'Roark, Lawrenceville, Ga; sons and daughters-in-law, Jerry and Dianna Custer, Salem, Michael and Anita Custer, Catawba; 12 grandchildren. Interment will be in Brillhart Cemetery, Catawba. on October 5, 1995.²

     Fred Randolph Gowen was buried at Gowen-Goolsby Cemetery, Shipman, Nelson Co., Virginia.² He was born on October 30, 1930 at Nelson Co., Virginia.^4,5 He died on February 25, 1955 at age 24.^2,5

     His Social Security Number was 227-40-4316.⁹ Jack Tunstall Gowen was buried at Gowen-Goolsby Cemetery, Shipman, Nelson Co., Virginia.¹⁰ He was born on February 26, 1938 at Shipman, Nelson Co., Virginia.^9,2,4 He married Lorene Mae Coleman on May 24, 1975 at Shipman, Nelson Co., Virginia.^3,5 Jack Tunstall Gowen married Betty Jean Martin on April 18, 1998 at Nelson Co., Virginia.³ Jack Tunstall Gowen died on August 17, 2001 at Shipman, Nelson Co., Virginia, at age 63.^9,11,5 He NELSON PROBES TWO SLAYINGS - Nelson County authorities are investigating two weekend slayings that occurred in less than a day in different parts of the county. An alleged domestic shooting Friday and a suspected arson Saturday left two people dead in a rural county people associate more with "The Waltons" than violent crime. "I wish I knew [what was going on]," said Capt. Ed Watkins. "It's very unusual." Sheriff's deputies found the body of Jack Tunstall Gowen, 63, a retired painter, on the living room floor of his home in Shipman at 2:45 p.m. Friday. They were following up on a call from a relative who couldn't get through on the phone. Watkins said Gowen was shot in the chest with a large-caliber handgun found at the scene. Police believe the death may have resulted from a confrontation between Gowen and his estranged wife, Betty Gowen, 57. She was not living with her husband at the time. An odd coincidence made the search for a suspect brief. Police responded to a single-car wreck on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Crabtree Falls early Saturday; the driver was Betty Gowen. When police realized who she was, they arrested her and charged her with murder. Betty Gowen was treated at the University of Virginia Medical Center and released into police custody Saturday. Officials sent Jack Gowen's body to the state medical examiner's office in Roanoke for an autopsy scheduled for today. (She was convicted of murder and sentenced on April 8, 2002 to serve 20 years in the state penitentiary. The conviction and sentence were affirmed by the appellate courts of the Commonwealth of Virginia.) on August 20, 2001.¹¹

     Richard Eugene Webb was buried at Webb Cemetery, Rt. 621, Craig Co., Virginia.^5,4 His Social Security Number was 230-66-1323.³ He was born on August 25, 1948 at Roanoke Co., Virginia.^1,2,5,3,4 He married Carolyn Ann Custer, daughter of Clyde Wesley Custer and Ruby Helen Gowen, on November 20, 1982 at Catawba, Roanoke Co., Virginia.^1,4 Richard Eugene Webb died on July 8, 1985 at Salem, Roanoke Co., Virginia, at age 36.^5,4

     Jerry Wayne Custer was born on July 25, 1952 at Roanoke Co., Virginia.^3,4,5,6 He married Judy Ann Turner on May 12, 1973 at Catawba, Roanoke Co., Virginia.³ Jerry Wayne Custer and Judy Ann Turner were divorced on June 21, 1989 at Roanoke Co., Virginia.⁶ Jerry Wayne Custer married Dianna Lynne Dickerson on June 24, 1989 at Catawba, Roanoke Co., Virginia.³ Jerry Wayne Custer died on July 23, 2022 at Catawba, Roanoke Co., Virginia, at age 69.⁵ He Jerry Wayne Custer, July 25, 1952 - July 23, 2022. Jerry Wayne Custer, 69, of Catawba, Va., passed away at his home on Saturday, July 23, 2022. He was preceded in death by his father, Clyde Wesley Custer, and mother, Ruby Gowen Custer. He is survived by his wife, Dianna; son, Chad (Summer); daughter, Kristen; grandchildren, Emerson and Holden; sisters, Carolyn, Ruth, Wanda (Phil), and Cathy (J. Lee); brother, Mike (Anita); and numerous nieces and nephews. Jerry served his country in the U.S. Army and Virginia National Guard before spending 25 years as a law enforcement officer with Roanoke County. After retirement, he worked as a law enforcement advisor in Afghanistan and Israel. An avid outdoorsman, he was often found hunting, fishing and working in the garden. He was well-known as a pillar in his community and will be greatly missed. on July 27, 2022.⁵

     His Social Security Number was 241-10-9252.⁵ Reubin Hassell Cox was born on August 26, 1920 at Ruffin, Rockingham Co., North Carolina.^1,5,3,4 He married Viola Gertrude Gowen, daughter of Samuel Benjamin Gowen and Helen Estelle Goolsby, on April 21, 1952 at Nelson Co., Virginia.¹ Reubin Hassell Cox died on November 27, 1994 at Spotsylvania Co., Virginia, at age 74.^5,2

     Billy John Pippin was buried at Bethlehem Cemetery, Roseland, Nelson Co., Virginia.⁶ His Social Security Number was 226-44-9732.⁷ He was born on June 21, 1937 at Roseland, Nelson Co., Virginia.^7,2,6,5 He married Betty Alice Gowen, daughter of Samuel Benjamin Gowen and Helen Estelle Goolsby, on August 9, 1958 at Nelson Co., Virginia.^8,1,2,6 Billy John Pippin died on March 6, 2005 at Nelson Co., Virginia, at age 67.^7,6,3

     Samuel Benjamin "Sam" Gowen Jr. was buried at Gowen-Goolsby Cemetery, Shipman, Nelson Co., Virginia.² He was born on October 15, 1942 at Shipman, Nelson Co., Virginia.^7,3,4,5 He married Tennie LaVerne Helsel on August 3, 1968 at Campbell Co., Virginia.^4,8 Samuel Benjamin "Sam" Gowen Jr. and Tennie LaVerne Helsel were divorced on February 26, 1993 at Lynchburg, Virginia.^5,8 Samuel Benjamin "Sam" Gowen Jr. died on February 21, 2015 at Lynchburg, Virginia, at age 72.⁷ He Samuel Benjamin Gowen Jr., 72, of Lynchburg died Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015, in Lynchburg. Born Oct. 15, 1942, in Shipman, he was a son of the late Samuel B. Gowen Sr. and Helen E. Goolsby Gowen. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by four brothers, Jack T. Gowen, Fred Randolph Gowen, Lynwood Wayne Gowen and Edward E. Gowen, and two sisters, Ruby Custer and Viloa Cox. Sam was a Vietnam Army veteran, recipient of the Purple Heart and numerous other awards, and a self-employed paint contractor serving Nelson and surrounding counties. He is survived by five sisters, Margie G. Shipes and Marie Dalton, both of Lynchburg, Sharon Newman, of Chester, Mildred Vance of Rhoadesville and Betty Pippin of Roseland; one brother, Marion Gowen of Weaver- ville, N.C; a devoted lifelong friend and companion, Lavern Markham; Amy Mark- ham, who was like a daughter to Sam; special friends William "Porky" and Christy Campbell of Lynchburg; and several nieces and nephews. on February 24, 2015.⁷ He On Saturday, June 20, 2015 a service for Samuel Benjamin "Sam" Gowen Jr. will be held at with Pastor John P. Campbell officiating and will be laid to rest by his parents at the family cemetery in Shipman. Military Honors provided by American Legion Post # 16. Sam was a retired self-employed painting contractor in Nelson and surrounding counties and was a decorated Vietnam War Veteran. His parents, Samuel B. Gowen and Helen Goolsby Gowen, preceded him in death. He is survived by his sisters, Margie G. Shipes and Marie Dalton both of Lynchburg, Sharon Newman of Chester, Mildred Vance of Rhodesville, and Betty Pippen of Roseland; one brother, Marion Gowen of Weaverville, N.C; and several nieces and nephews. on June 19, 2015.²