IN LOVING MEMORY OF
William Richard
Bowden
March 12, 1934 – July 29, 2017
Obituary
William Richard Bowden, "Will," set out on his last road trip July 29, 2017, after a brief acute illness. Remarkable father, grandfather, husband and friend; his passion for life was renowned. His love of ice cream, licorice and chocolate kisses took backseat to his love of his family and MG automobiles. Brimming with creativity- Will sketched cartoons for his college yearbooks, inked drawings of sports cars and crafted prizewinning pinewood derby racers with his son and grandsons. Even at 83 years old, Will could always be counted on to help whether one was stranded by the roadside or moving to a new home. Zealous about the restoration and repair of MGs, Will was a renaissance man capable of fixing, or attempting to fix, just about anything from a sailboat to a daughter's broken heart.
Will was born March 12, 1934 in Boonton, New Jersey. He attended public schools and graduated from Boonton High School in 1951. Appointed to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in 1952, he graduated in February 1956 with a Bachelor of Science in Nautical Science; and was commissioned in the United States Naval Reserve and licensed as Third Officer of the U.S. Merchant Marine. While at the United States Merchant Marine Academy, Will was class president for 4 years, cadet officer (company commander) and lettered in track. He spent 2 years as Third Officer on Lykes Brothers Cargo Ships, traveling around the world. He came ashore and retired USNR as a lieutenant. Will then entered the budding aerospace industry, first at Aero Jet General in California and then at Martin Marietta Orlando until his retirement in 1992.
Will was a resident of Central Florida for 60 years. He was passionate about sports cars and was a charter member of the MMSCO (Martin Marietta Sports Car Club) and founder, in 1962, of the Classic MG Club. The Classic MG Club, still flourishing today, was intended for sharing camaraderie, maintenance and preservation of 1940-50 T Series MG cars, but now includes all MG's. Will was also an enthusiast of competitive sports car events. In 1978, Will entered his 1955 MG TF (which he drove daily for 15 years) in Vintage Racing (as Will remarked "old cars and old drivers") at Sebring International Raceway and continued vintage racing for over 25 years.
Considered an expert in 1940-1950's MG's; in 1962 Will established a MG restoration business, Ye Olde MG Shoppe, in which he remained active until his death. Over the years, Will became known as the "MG Doctor," and developed proficiency on all models of MG's, assisting many enthusiasts throughout the United States, indeed the world, with their passion.
Among those left to cherish his memories are his wife, Voyce Wall Bowden, daughters, Ellen (Mark) Tidwell, Nancy (Lowell) Stewart, Jennifer Larson, and son David (Barbara) Bowden and grandchildren Nina Stewart (Jeremy Grubman), Zachary and Grady Stewart, Matthew and Rachel Bowden. He is also survived by his brother James M. Bowden (Jeannie), and sister Meredith "Cookie" (Charles) Green, nieces and nephews. Will was predeceased by his parents, James M. Bowden and Mildred Skidmore Bowden and his grandson Justin Tidwell. Carla Cady Bowden, Will's high school sweetheart and the mother of his children, predeceased him, as did his second wife, Sherry Long Bowden.
Raise a glass to Will, treasure the good times spent with him and remember these words that Will was known to say: "we will meet again on down the road…."
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in his memory to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation or the American Cancer Society. Please join us at a celebration of Will's life to be held in a few months. When plans are made an update will posted on this site.
Will was born March 12, 1934 in Boonton, New Jersey. He attended public schools and graduated from Boonton High School in 1951. Appointed to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in 1952, he graduated in February 1956 with a Bachelor of Science in Nautical Science; and was commissioned in the United States Naval Reserve and licensed as Third Officer of the U.S. Merchant Marine. While at the United States Merchant Marine Academy, Will was class president for 4 years, cadet officer (company commander) and lettered in track. He spent 2 years as Third Officer on Lykes Brothers Cargo Ships, traveling around the world. He came ashore and retired USNR as a lieutenant. Will then entered the budding aerospace industry, first at Aero Jet General in California and then at Martin Marietta Orlando until his retirement in 1992.
Will was a resident of Central Florida for 60 years. He was passionate about sports cars and was a charter member of the MMSCO (Martin Marietta Sports Car Club) and founder, in 1962, of the Classic MG Club. The Classic MG Club, still flourishing today, was intended for sharing camaraderie, maintenance and preservation of 1940-50 T Series MG cars, but now includes all MG's. Will was also an enthusiast of competitive sports car events. In 1978, Will entered his 1955 MG TF (which he drove daily for 15 years) in Vintage Racing (as Will remarked "old cars and old drivers") at Sebring International Raceway and continued vintage racing for over 25 years.
Considered an expert in 1940-1950's MG's; in 1962 Will established a MG restoration business, Ye Olde MG Shoppe, in which he remained active until his death. Over the years, Will became known as the "MG Doctor," and developed proficiency on all models of MG's, assisting many enthusiasts throughout the United States, indeed the world, with their passion.
Among those left to cherish his memories are his wife, Voyce Wall Bowden, daughters, Ellen (Mark) Tidwell, Nancy (Lowell) Stewart, Jennifer Larson, and son David (Barbara) Bowden and grandchildren Nina Stewart (Jeremy Grubman), Zachary and Grady Stewart, Matthew and Rachel Bowden. He is also survived by his brother James M. Bowden (Jeannie), and sister Meredith "Cookie" (Charles) Green, nieces and nephews. Will was predeceased by his parents, James M. Bowden and Mildred Skidmore Bowden and his grandson Justin Tidwell. Carla Cady Bowden, Will's high school sweetheart and the mother of his children, predeceased him, as did his second wife, Sherry Long Bowden.
Raise a glass to Will, treasure the good times spent with him and remember these words that Will was known to say: "we will meet again on down the road…."
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in his memory to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation or the American Cancer Society. Please join us at a celebration of Will's life to be held in a few months. When plans are made an update will posted on this site.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of William Richard Bowden, please visit our flower store.
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