OWENSBORO — Don Bivens, 73, of Owensboro, passed away Thursday, September 27, 2012, at Owensboro Medical Health Systems.

Born in Marshall County, a son of the late John and Mildred Collins Bivens, Don graduated from North Marshall High School. He entered the Kentucky State Police Academy and began a law enforcement career that spanned almost three decades. Beginning as a trooper, he later became a detective, retiring after 28 years as the Resident Agent for the narcotics division of western Kentucky, covering from Louisville to Paducah. He served as a deputy United States Marshal for 22 years, was a U.S. Army veteran, having served in the Military Police, and retired from the United States Coast Guard Reserve after 20 years of service. For more than 20 years he was the night manager of the Executive Inn Rivermont. Work was his hobby. Don enjoyed doing things he knew nothing about and learning to do them well. An intrepid traveler, he and his wife visited 34 foreign countries.

Don is survived by his wife, Thelma Downing Bivens; his children, Dayna (Dan) Smith and Matthew (Jackie) Bivens, all of Owensboro; his grandchildren, Andrew, Erin, Allie, Ethan and Miranda; his great-grandchildren, Jaxton and Ashlynn; his brothers, Bill Bivens of Columbus, Ohio, and David Bivens of Cookeville, Tenn.; and his sisters, June Farmstrom of West Land, Mich., Charlotte Paradelas of Baton Rouge, La., Shirley Barker of Cortez, CO, and Helen Barter of Benton. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his brother, Johnny Bivens.

The funeral service, officiated by Dr. James Byrd, will be at 2:00 p.m. Sunday at Third Baptist Church. Visitation will be from 3:00 until 6:00 p.m. Saturday at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory and from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m. Sunday at the church. Entombment will be in Elmwood Cemetery.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the National Honor Society Christmas Angel Tree at Owensboro High School. Messages of condolence may be placed at www.glennfuneralhome.com.