Rickey Allen Bowen, 72, of Colonial Heights, Virginia, passed away on Thursday, October 8, 2026.

Born December 12, 1953, in Petersburg, Virginia, Rickey was the son of the late Allen Vernon Bowen and Mildred Crowder Bowen. He lived a life defined by kindness and an unwavering devotion to the people he loved.

Rickey was an early member of the Southside Virginia Emergency Crew and served his community as a police officer with the Petersburg Bureau of Police. He later enjoyed a long career with Exide Technologies, from which he retired. Throughout his life, he was known for his strong work ethic, practical intelligence, and remarkable ability to simplify just about anything.

An only child who lost his parents early in life, Rickey cherished the family he built and the extended family who became his own. He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather who could always be counted on to show up. Whether it was a ballgame, a school function, a family gathering, or simply an ordinary day when someone needed him, he was there. He especially loved the family’s annual trips to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, which provided a lifetime of memories and stories he never tired of sharing.

A familiar sight around Colonial Heights, Rickey could often be spotted behind the wheel of his blue pickup truck, enjoying a drive around town with no particular destination in mind. More often than not, those drives led him to a meal with lifelong friends or a visit to one of his favorite spots: Chick-fil-A, Nanny’s Restaurant, or the restaurant at the Keystone Tractor Museum. A regular at all three, Rickey became as much a part of their extended families as they were of his daily routine.

Standing 6 feet 7 inches tall, Rickey was a gentle giant with an even bigger heart. He especially treasured his grandchildren, who brought him immeasurable joy. He had a wonderful sense of humor, an infectious laugh, an appreciation for life’s simple pleasures, and a gift for making those around him feel loved.

Rickey was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Chris Tukiendorf Bowen.

He is survived by his three sons, Steven (Andrea), Daniel (Amy), and Kevin (Kate); his beloved grandchildren, AJ, Easton, Bennett, Ellie, Addy, Patrick, Barrett, Colton, and Sullivan; his cherished step-grandchildren; his sister-in-law and brothers-in-law, Gigi, David (Phillip), and Eddy (Denise); and numerous loving cousins, extended family members, and friends.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at E. Alvin Small Funeral Home, 3935 South Crater Road, Petersburg, Virginia 23805. A funeral service will be held at the same location on Wednesday, October 14, at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (www.alzdiscovery.org) in Rickey’s memory.

Rickey will be remembered for his kindness, his humor, his quiet strength, and, most of all, the simple but extraordinary way he was always there for the people he loved.