Mr. Ralph Reed Bowling, age 83, of Buchanan passed away Tuesday, July 23, 2013. Mr. Bowling was born in Buchanan on June 11, 1930. He was the son of the late Franklin Lee Bowling and the late Abby Ethel Windom Bowling. Mr. Bowling as a veteran of the Army National Guard and was a retired engineer with the Georgia Dept. of Transportation with 35 years service. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by five sisters, Ethel Morris, Maggie Bowling, Jewell Bowling, Christine Dobbs and Sarah Temple; four brothers, James Bowling, Horace Bowling, Pierce Bowling and Belton Bowling.

Survivors include his wife, Lucile Coker Bowling of Buchanan; two daughters and sons-in-law, Judy and Gerry Dale of Dallas and Cindy and Jerry Gilbert of Buford; three sons and daughters-in-law, Jim Frankie and Michele Bowling of Duluth, Rick and Cherrie Bowling of Kennesaw and Chris and Cindy Bowling of Buchanan; nine grandchildren, Shelley Bowling, Tonya Annette Holyoak, Matthew Bowling, Jennifer Lynn Beaver, Tammy Payne, Bryan Keith Bowling, Chet Beaver, Michele Bowling and Shannon Bowling; seven great grandchildren; and a number of other relatives.

Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, July 25, 2013 at 11:00 A.M. from Hutcheson''s Memorial Chapel with Rev. Joey Meeks, Rev. Buddy Gentry and Rev. Lee Patrick officiating. Music will be rendered by Bobby Robinson and Johnny and Janice Daniel. Interment will follow in Forest Lawn Memorial Park with the following gentlemen serving as pallbearers: Chet Beaver, Terry Robinson, Scott Robinson, Keith Bowling, Jeff Worthy and Mark Reynolds.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home Wednesday evening from 6:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M.

Flowers are welcome, however if you prefer you may make a contribution in Mr. Bowling''s memory to: Tanner Hospice, 101 Clinic Ave., Carrollton, GA 30117.

Hutcheson''s Memorial Chapel & Crematory of Buchanan is in charge of the arrangements.