He had a daughter out of wedlock by Leota Faye Davis (21 Feb 1920 TX - 12 May 1976 Selma, CA) - Helen L. Bowden on 19 March 1944.
Married Beverly J. Nelson around 1946, and had three children: Linda Jean (13 Jun 1947), Sheila Gay (30 May 1948) & Dennis Jay (1 Oct 1951), all born in Santa Clara County, CA.
[Obituary]
Jay C. Bowden of Campbell, California, born February 4, 1926, passed away November 22, 2000. Mr. Bowden was a 50-year member of the Lathers Local #144 of San Jose, California. Loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, he is survived by his wife of 56 years, Beverly Bowden, and his children and their spouses, Linda and Dan Seminar, Sheila and Jerry Smith, and Dennis and Patricia Bowden; grandchildren, Kimberly Twitchell, Genay Seminar, Dean Seminar, Kenneth Marchese, Raymond Marchese, Jennifer Kenney and Tyler Smith; great-grandchildren, Jacquie Marchese, Michael Twitchell and Molly Kenney; brother, Bobbie Kelley; and sister, Helen Gill.