John Ligon Bowles' Obituary
John Ligon Bowles, age 85, passed away on Monday, May 11th, 2026 at St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital in Murfreesboro, TN. Johnny was born September 25, 1940 to Robert Holland Bowles and Josephine Barnard Bowles. Johnny is survived by and will always be remembered by his stepdaughter and son-in-law, Florence Geneine (Wilson) & Pat Martin Duff, and his daughter-in-law, Cindy Wilson.
In addition to his parents, Johnny is preceded in death by his loving wife of 54 years, Clara Mai (Keaton) Wilson Bowles; his son, John Edward Wilson; two step-children, Doris Marie (Wilson) Gann and James Herschel Wilson; and his siblings, Nancy (Bowles) Hawks, Nina Jo (Bowles) Willis, Robert “Buddy” Holland Bowles Jr., Mary Ann (Bowles) Follett, and Paul “Sonny” Bowles.
Johnny will be forever remembered as “Papa” in the hearts of his grandchildren and their spouses, Ricky Campbell Jr. & fiancée Misty Foster, Dana Marie (Campbell) Williams, Jamie (Wilson) & Mark Bradford, James Daniel & Chasity Wilson, along with his many great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Johnny was a friendly man, good natured, and was blessed with a heart that never met a stranger. He was a Nashville native but spent the past 8 years of his life residing in Smyrna. He retired as a truck driver and spent many years with Tennessee Trucking and Wade Carthage. He was an honorary member of the Hermitage Sportsman’s Club. He always looked forward to attending their functions and monthly meetings; he said the club members were all friendly and good-natured men who always made him feel welcomed. He had a deeply rooted passion for Vanderbilt sports and especially loved cheering on the Nashville Sounds baseball team!
Johnny is now with the Lord; we are so grateful for that and will surely miss him.
Pallbearers will include Ricky Campbell Jr., Daniel Wilson, Ricky “Tres” Campbell III, Joey Bradford, and Justin Williams.
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