Charles “Chuck” Franklin Bowles passed away May 12, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family. He was 77 years old.

Born on July 12, 1948, in Huntington, West Virginia, Chuck was the son of Charles W. Bowles and Emily Jean (Franklin) Bowles and the oldest of 4 children. He proudly served his country in Vietnam as a laboratory technician before building a life centered on education, family, and community.

A resident of Colorado Springs since 1978, Chuck dedicated more than 21 years to higher education as a respected Business Professor and Department Chair at Pikes Peak Community College and Regis University. Known for his wisdom, sharp observational humor, and mentorship, he shaped the lives of countless students before retiring in 2010. Prior to that he spent 22 years in the medical field advancing into executive leadership roles in multiple local medical organizations. Chuck attended Pacific Lutheran University in Parkland, Washington, where he studied business and laid the foundation for his lifelong passion for teaching and leadership.

Chuck was deeply involved in the Colorado Springs community and was a proud member of the AdAmAn Club. He first climbed Pikes Peak as an AdAmAn Club guest in 1978 and officially joined the organization in 1989 as member #71, helping continue the annual Pikes Peak New Year’s Eve fireworks tradition. His final climb with the club was in 2022 during the AdAmAn Club’s 100th anniversary celebration. His broader mountaineering record included summiting 35 of Colorado’s Fourteeners, as well as major peaks across North America and Europe, including Mount Hood, Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens (4 years to the day before its first eruption), the Zugspitze in Germany, and the Grossglockner in Austria. He also completed the Pikes Peak Marathon six times.

He served five years on the Board of Directors of the Colorado Springs Better Business Bureau and spent 15 years as a Volunteer Business Consultant with the Colorado Springs Small Business Development Center.

Above all, Chuck was devoted to his family. He shared 25 wonderful years of marriage with his beloved wife, Cindy. He treasured being “Peepa” to his grandsons Lucas and Linus, who brought him immense pride and joy. He is also survived by his daughter, Rebekah Hackney (Nick); his son, Justin “Chuck” Bowles (Jen); stepsons, Justin Link (Elizabeth) and Chad Link (Shirley); and grandchildren Eli, Trinity, Addison, Sophie, and Finnley.

Chuck’s love for his family was perhaps best demonstrated in October 2002, when he donated a kidney to his son Justin (17 at the time), a selfless act that reflected the generosity and quiet strength that defined his life.

A celebration of life for friends and family will be held this summer.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Chuck’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, Donate Life Colorado, or the Bristol Hospice Foundation.