ASSONET — Richard Bowie died suddenly of a heart attack Nov. 21, 2013 at the age of 68. At heart, Rick was still a farm boy from rural Maine. With three brothers, two sisters and a strong mother and father, Rick valued working hard, working together and taking care of the wider needs of the community. He carried this work ethic throughout all the activities of his life.
He was born in Lewiston, ME to Harriet Hall and Phillip Bowie and raised in North Yarmouth. He attended N. Yarmouth Academy and Yarmouth High School where he was the President of his class. At the University of ME Portland, he studied mathematics and played on the basketball team.
Following college, he married his high school sweetheart Travis Markham and entered Naval OCS in 1967. He served as a Lieutenant aboard the USS Constellation during the Vietnam War and later on the USS Leahy. He was incredibly proud of his service.
After settling in Dartmouth, MA, Rick and Travis' family grew to include 3 children, Anne, Kate and Markham. Rick worked at Continental Screw Co., Acushnet Co. and then at Mass MEP. He loved fostering young businesses, encouraging their efficiency, their long-range planning and their loyalties to their ideals.
Rick was a man of great, enduring faith. He was determined and purposeful in his work for Grace Episcopal Church in New Bedford, MA and formerly at St. Peter's Church in S. Dartmouth, contributing his intensity to capital campaigns, vestry, stewardship and the choir.
For his family he served as a steadfast support, a mentor, a coach, an expert at the hookshot and a fervent Celtic and Red Sox fan.
Rick participated in the Freetown Historical Society and Lions Club. His garden was a lifelong project, encompassing joy and frustration. He was Treasurer and long-time board member of both the New Bedford DCF Area Office and the Foster Care Support Task Force of the New Bedford Community Connections Coalition. In memory of Rick's years of dedication and advocacy work on behalf of foster children, an enrichment scholarship has been established in his name.
Rick leaves his wife, Travis Markham Bowie, of Assonet, MA and three children; Anne Bowie of Boston, Kate Bowie McGonigle and husband Dr. John McGonigle of Westport, MA and Markham Bowie of Brooklyn, NY; four grandchildren, Coltrane, Elijah and Harriet McGonigle and Jordan Bowie. Rick is survived by four siblings, brothers Rodney and Wife Etta Bowie of Norwich, CT, Joel Bowie of Lehigh, FL, and two sisters, Dr. Judith Rowan and husband Dr. Ed Rowan of Exeter, NH and Kathleen and husband Gordon Blake of Westbrook, ME and sister-in-law Lois Bowie of Lucerne, ME, wife of the late Gerald Bowie.
Services will be held at Grace Episcopal Church in New Bedford on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 1:30 p.m. Visiting hours will be at Wilson Funeral Chapel, 479 County St., New Bedford on Friday, Dec. 6 from 4 to 7 pm., www.wilsonchapel.net.
Remembrances can be made to: NBCCC's "Rick Bowie" Enrichment Scholarship Fund, c/o United Way of Greater New Bedford, 105 William St., New Bedford, MA 02740.