Rev.Charles K. (Chaso) Sowden;77;went to be eith the Lord on Friday;March 24;2000;at 8:25 a.m. in Mon Valley hospital. Rev.Sowden resided on Jane Anenue in Speers. A son of the late Robert R.and Lena Rohland Sowden;he was born in Boston;Pa.;on March 23;1923. He was a retired member of the Western Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church. His charge conference affiliation was with the Speers United Methodist Church. He was Minister Emeritus of the Fredericktown St.Paul’s Denbo United Methodist churches. Rev. Sowden began
his ministry as a lay leader of
Allenport United Methodist
Church and served as pastor of
Edwards Chapel of Monongahela; Speers/Coal Center;
Speers; Fredericktown/Denbo
and the South Brownsville
United Methodist churches prior to his retirement in 1990.
Since retirement; he had
served several area churches
as an interim minister. He
also worked part-time as an
attendant for Ferguson Funeral Home. He was a member
of Gummert Lodge #252;
F&AM; the Lodge of Perfection
of Uniontown; California Rotary Club and was on the
board of Jumonville Training
Center. He was a former
member of the Fredericktown
Rotary Club and had served as
a scoutmaster in Allenport for
many years. He was a U.S.
Navy veteran of World War II.
From 1949 to 1970; he worked
for Sealtest Dairy of Charleroi
and Pittsburgh. Survivors include his wife of 57 years;
Mary Lou Haywood Sowden; a
son and daughter-in-law; C.
Kenneth and Jaci Sowden of
Hilo; Hawaii; three daughters
and two sons-in-law; Jane and
James Sykes of Ookmont;
Beth and Gary Tuck of Bowling Green; Kentucky; and Amy
Kennedy of Oakmont; and
seven grandchildren; Jamie
and Chase Sykes; Jennifer and
Stefanie Ontai; Lisa and Chris
Tuck; and Kendal Kennedy. In
addition to his parents; he was
preceded in death by two sisters;Rita Sowden and LaVerne Hubert;and three brothers;James;Robert and Willis (Mike) Sowden. Friends will be received Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m.and Sunday from noon to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME INC.;700 Broad Ave.;Belle Vernon. A memorial service will be held Monday at 11 a.m.in Speers United Methodist Church with the Rev.Jeff St.Clair and the Rev.Oden R.Warman;District Superintendent of the Washington District;Western Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church;co-officiating. In Lieu of flowers;the family suggests memorial contributions to Jumonville Education Center. Gummert Lodge #252 will hold services Sunday at 8 p.m.in the funeral home.