Eldridge M. "Popeye" Bowen, age 92, of Prince Frederick, MD, a longtime resident of Tracy's Landing and Lothian, MD passed away January 6, 2012 at Calvert Memorial Hospital in Prince Frederick. Popeye was born December 23, 1919 in Adelina, MD, now part of Prince Frederick, to Molly (Montgomery) and Eldridge C. Bowen. He was raised in Fairhaven, MD and lived in Tracy's Landing for many years.

He married Patricia "Patty" Kirby on July 3, 1982 and they lived in Lothian, MD and Prince Frederick for the past year and one half.

Popeye was a lifelong farmer and was a retired truck driver with the Anne Arundel County Pubic Works Department. He also hauled loads of tobacco for many local farmers to the tobacco markets in Upper Marlboro, MD.

Popeye was a faithful member of Friendship United Methodist Church, and a former member of Deale Volunteer Fire Department. In his leisure time, Popeye enjoyed baseball and taking bus trips to the casinos in Delaware where he liked playing slot machines.

Popeye was preceded in death by his parents and by six siblings.

He is survived by his devoted wife Patty Bowen, daughters Margaret Dyar of Huntingtown, MD and Nancy Skinner of Stevensville, MD, and by a son Raymond Bowen of Lansing, MI. He is also survived by granddaughters Sandra Callow, Loretta Czarnomski and Bridgett Bowen, and by four great-grandchildren.

Friends and family will be received on Tuesday from 2-4 & 7-9 PM at Rausch Funeral Home, P.A., 8325 Mt. Harmony Lane, Owings, MD. A funeral service and celebration of Popeye's life will be held at 11:00 AM Wednesday January 11, 2012 at Friendship United Methodist Church, Friendship, MD. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

Arrangements provided by Rausch Funeral Home.