John F. Bowler, 85, of Methuen passed away Wednesday September 10th at the Holy Family Hospital. He was born in Lawrence son of the late Catherine (Sheehy) and Michael Bowler. John was a 1946 graduate of the Edward F. Searles High School in Methuen, The Tilton School in 1947, and later he earned a bachelors degree from the newly founded Merrimack College where he was in the first graduating class of 1951. John then went on to the United States Marine Corps where he served during the Korean War as an Instructor and Trainer earning an honorable discharge in 1953 at the rank of Sergeant; and in the Marine Corps Reserves until 1959. He worked for New England Telephone for 40 years and was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union. John was also a parishioner of Saint Monica Church in Methuen for many years and in his free time enjoyed spending time at Hampton and Salisbury beaches, and most of all spending time with his grandson Michael and attending his baseball games.
John is predeceased by his wife of 43 years Anne (Lavery Melnicki) Bowler and is survived by a daughter Kathy Bowler of Methuen, a son Sean Bowler and his wife Erin of Haverhill, and five grandchildren Michael J. Bowler, Aidan Bowler, Owen Bowler, Flynn Bowler, and Colin Bowler, and stepdaughters Maryjo Doiron and her husband Dan, and children Steven Castiglione and Daniel Doiron Jr; and Anne Gross, and her husband Stephen, and children Glenn DiBenedetto, Erin Currier, and Andrea Korzon.
Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend calling hours on Monday September 15th from 4-8 PM at the Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home 233 Lawrence Street in Methuen. A Funeral Mass will take place on Tuesday September 16th at 11AM at Saint Monica Church in Methuen followed by entombment at Immaculate Conception Mausoleum in Lawrence. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in Johns honor may be made to American Lung Association 460 Totten Pond Road #400, Waltham MA 02451. For directions and online condolences please visit www.pollardfuneralhome.com. The Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home is honored to serve the Bowler family in their time of need.