Sept. 26, 1932 – June 12, 2012

ABERDEEN, N.C. — Services for James Lester “Jimmy” Gowins, Jr., 79, of Aberdeen, N.C., who died Tuesday, June 12, 2012, will be at 5 p.m. today at Southside Baptist Church in Aberdeen with the Rev. Chris McNeill officiating.

Burial with military honors will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery in Spring Lake, N.C.

Visitation will be from 4 to 5 p.m. today at Southside Baptist Church.

Gowins was born Sept. 26, 1932, in Archibald, La., the son of James L. Gowins Sr. and Lois Irene Burkett Gowins. He served in the Korean Conflict in the U.S. Marine Corps. He worked in tire manufacturing at Armstrong Tire & Rubber and retired to North Carolina from Milan, Ga. He was a member of the V.F.W. and AMVETS.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Bonnie Miner Gowins; a son, Steven Mitchell Gowins of Eagle, Alaska; two daughters, Deborah Pamela Martin of Sturky, Ark., and Donna Cecile Matteson of Raeford, N.C.; a brother, John Stanley Gowins of Vidalia; two sisters, Barbara Jean White of Hattiesburg and Marcie Irene Gaubert of Thibodeaux, La.; nine grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

Russell-Marks Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Rockingham, N.C., is assisting the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Samaritan’s Purse, c/o Southside Baptist Church, PO 1501, Vass, NC 28394.

Russell-Marks Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Rockingham, N.C., is assisting the family.