Rhea Bowles, 75, of Wickliffe, Kentucky, passed away at the Ray and Kay Eckstein Hospice Center of Paducah on September 30, 2025. Rhea was born in Paducah, Kentucky, on October 18, 1949, to the late William C. and Lunette Bowles.
As a young man, Rhea served his country in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, where he was stationed at Dogpatch around Da Nang, Vietnam from 1968 to 1970. In 1998, Rhea was called to serve as the Pastor of New Zion Bible Baptist Church, a role he would hold for over three decades. Rhea touched many lives during his ministry, always leading by example.
Rhea is survived by his wife of 57 years, Carol Bowles; one daughter, Shana Rhea (Eric) Stough, of Gage, Kentucky; one son, Chad (Rene) Bowles, of Hinkleville, Kentucky; a brother, Dan (Beth) Bowles, of Cunningham, Kentucky; and three grandchildren, Kole Rhea Williams, of Murray, Kentucky, Dustin (Lindsay) Bowles, of Blandville, Kentucky, and Lydia Bowles, of Louisville, Kentucky.
A Funeral Service will be on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Milner & Orr Funeral Home of Paducah with Bro. Steve Shults officiating. Burial will follow at North Ballard Cemetery in Ballard County, Kentucky.
Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 3, 2025, at Milner & Orr Funeral Home of Paducah.
Visitation will also be held from 10:00 a.m. until the 11:00 a.m. service time on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at Milner & Orr Funeral Home of Paducah.
Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to, Ray and Kay Eckstein Hospice Center at 1530 Lone Oak Rd. Paducah, Kentucky, 42003 or to the Shriners Children Ohio 1 Children’s Plaza. Dayton, OH 45404.
Share a memory or leave a message for the family at www.milnerandorr.com.