March 29, 2024

David E. Bowden

Posted

David E. Bowden, retired Seekonk Fire Chief, 79, of Seekonk, died Sunday, March 4, 2018, at Mass General Hospital with family at his side. He was the loving husband of Janet W. (Spencer) Bowden, having celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary in February.

Born in Pawtucket, he was a son of the late Everett N. Bowden and Laura E. (Lundgren) Bowden.

Mr. Bowden grew up in East Providence and graduated from East Providence High School in the Class of 1956.

He was variously the Seekonk Health Agent, Town Planner, and had been a member of the Seekonk Planning Board.

As a member of the Seekonk Call Fire Department for 20 years, Mr. Bowden rose to the rank of captain before being appointed as chief of the department in 1983, a rank which he proudly held until his retirement in 1990.

Following his retirement as chief, he worked as a fire alarm consultant for Home & Commercial Security of Rehoboth for 17 years.

As a lifelong member of Newman Congregational Church, Mr. Bowden served as a trustee, Deacon, and sang in the choir for many years.

He was a member of Central Volunteer Fire Association of Seekonk, FACORI, and Bristol County Fire Chiefs Association, serving as president in 1989. He belonged to the MA Fire Chiefs Association and Concerned Citizens of Seekonk. He served on the Town Hall Building Committee and was a member of the Animal Shelter Building Committee from 1980 until the shelter’s completion in 1982. He was chairman of the Seekonk Senior Center Building Committee, seeing the senior center open in 2016. He also participated in local weekly cable programming featuring the history of Seekonk.

In addition to his wife, he leaves his loving children: Scott Bowden (USAF) and his wife Raeline of West Warwick, Kristen Apuzzo and her husband David of North Scituate, Bruce Bowden and his wife Shirley of Minnesota, Doug Bowden (Fort Bragg FD) and his wife Tracy of North Carolina, and his stepson, R. Michael Bingham (Warwick FD) of Rehoboth and daughter-in-law Helen Bingham of Seekonk.

David was the cherished grandfather of James Bowden, Megan Dunn and husband Vince, Kyle Apuzzo, Jay and Casey Bingham. He was brother of the late Donald A. Bowden, and uncle to many nieces and nephews. He was great-grandfather to Aiden James Dunn. He also leaves several cousins to whom he was close.

Relatives and friends are invited and may call on Sunday, March 18 from 3 to 7 p.m. at J.H. Williams & Co. Funeral Home, 210 Taunton Ave. (Route 44), East Providence. Burial will be private.

A service to celebrate David’s life will be held at Newman Congregational Church on May 5, time to follow.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory to the Seekonk Save A Pet Society, P.O. Box 474, Seekonk, MA 02771 or to the “Seekonk Friends of Friends” affiliated with the Seekonk Senior Center, 540 Arcade Avenue, Seekonk, MA 02771 will be appreciated.

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