Warren Bowen, 91 years young was born in Wyoming and came to Fullerton, California in 1933 (82 years ago). He came with his parents to join his maternal grandpa or as Warren affectionately put it…”Fullerton was a place to land.” The Bowens have a long and distinguish history of public service. His maternal grandpa was elected and served the city of Fullerton as Treasurer. Warren’s father sold agricultural products for a living and was elected for two-terms to the Fullerton City Council. Warren’s mother was also very active and served on the Red Cross Emergency Relief organization to help people in need.
Warren attended Fullerton schools from elementary to Fullerton Junior College (FJC), Occidental College for his B.A. and C.S. U. Fullerton for his M.A. But, it was FJC where he met —Jeanne Barnett. They married in 1947 and have two sons and a daughter (Chris, Dan, and Teresa). Chris and Ellen have children Andrew and Meredith. Meredith has twins, so Warren has two great grand kids! Dan and Heidi have two sons Sam and Ryland; and Teresa and Joel Thomas have son Adam. Sadly, Grandma Jeanne passed away 10 years ago.
Forty -years ago, Warren was one of the founding fathers of Fullerton Inter-faith Emergency Services (F.I.E.S). During that period a number of families in need asked the various local churches for help. The need became so great that six local clergymen from First Christian Church, First Presbyterian Church, First Methodist Church, First Baptist Church, St. Andrews Episcopal, and Emmanuel Episcopal got together to address the growing issue. This was the beginning of F.I.E.S. designed to offer immediate aid to families in need with a food bag or motel voucher. As this need grew, the operation was moved to an un-used portable classroom at Maple Ave. school as more churches joined F.I.E.S.
Warren’s proudest accomplishment in F.I.E.S. was the acquisition of the home on West Ameriege. Warren was a key player in negotiating and fundraising the money to buy the property which provided housing for the homeless and houses the Pathways of Hope office ( located right next to Hope’s Corner).
For the here and now–Warren hopes he can continue serve on the Board in an emeritus capacity. He feels that the everyday governance of Pathways of Hope would be better served by younger members.
Warren Bowen’s vision for F.I.E.S. –Pathways of Hope has been attained. He only hopes that Pathways of Hope will continue to grow in a sensible, rational way, with a commitment to F.I.E.S. original charge to address the needy.
A Brief Summary of Service to city of Fullerton and Community:
- Fullerton Arboretum – founding member of the Arboretum Commission …a City of Fullerton appointee to that original Commission…then a founding member and president of Friends of the Fullerton Arboretum (support group)…and various other leadership roles including founding director of garden education and programs. Currently, the historian for the Arboretum.
- Fullerton Heritage – long-time member of Board…now emeritus Board member. Fullerton Heritage is the historical society dedicated to preserving local sites and buildings.
- Andrew’s Episcopal Church – long-time member and currently Outreach Committee representative to Pathways of Hope.
- Member, Fullerton City Bicentennial Commission
- Member, City Parks and Recreation Commission
Respectfully Submitted by: Peter Fong