Bowen, Jack A.

Description

Jack A. Bowen

Jack Alton Bowen was born on July 8, 1924, in Port Chester, New York, to Ruth Alfrieda Natalia Nelson, age 22, and Millard Fillmore Bowen, Jr, age 28. He had two brothers Millard Jr. and Raymond and in Rye his family lived at Brevoort Lane, Greenhaven. Jack was a graduate of Port Chester High School

He enlisted in 1943 and served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He served 30 months with the 15th Army Air Force as a navigator, with the rank of 1st Lieutenant, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal.

Lieut. Jack A. Bowen, Army Navigator Reported Missing
First Lieut. Jack A. Bowen, twenty year old son of Mr. arid Mrs. Millard F. Bowen, Brevoort Lane, Greenhaven, has been reported missing in action. Lead navigator of a B-24 unit, attached to the 15th Air Force, he was on a mission over Austria on February 21 when last heard from. Hope for his safety was contained in a letter to his parents from another son, Sgt. Millard F. Bowen, Jr. , attached to a Fifth Army unit in Italy. Sgt. Bowen writes that a radio message from his brothers plane said . all hands O. K. He said it was highly probable the plane had reached friendly territory. Lieut. Bowen in his last letter written February 17 said he had two missions to go before completing the thirty-five needed before obtaining home leave.
PAGE:FOUR THE RYE CHRONICLE Friday, March 16, 1945

After serving in World War II, he graduated from Syracuse University in 1947 with a degree in Industrial Engineering. He married Doris Adele Kuser on June 21, 1947, in Rye, New York. They had one child during their marriage.

He retired from RCA in New Jersey and moved to Charlotte, NC in 1987. Jack was a member of Raintree Country Club and also a member of Retired Couples Club of Charlotte.

Jack A. Bowen, 79, of Charlotte, NC died Saturday, January 24, 2004.

At the time of his death, survivors included his wife of 56 years, Doris A. Bowen; children, Stacey Bowen of New York City, NY, Tori Kern and husband David of Charlotte, R. Kirby Bowen and wife Frenise of Summerville, SC; siblings, Millard Fillmore Bowen, Jr. of Tulsa, OK, Raymond N. Bowen of Titusville, NJ, Phyllis R. Schanck of Hopewell, NJ; grandchildren, Alexandra and Zachary Kern of Charlotte, and Brooks and Mackenzie Bowen of Summerville, SC.

A memorial service to celebrate his life was be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 30, 2004 at McEwen Funeral Service, Pineville Chapel with Lori Raible officiating.