ORLAND – Donald E. Bowden of the Castine Road has died June 9, 2006, after a long illness at the Maine Veterans’ Home, Bangor. He was born March 27, 1918, in Orland. His father was Emery Bowden; his mother, Carrie Bridges. He was a graduate of Bucksport High School and attended the Eastern Maine Normal School in Castine. He served in the Army Air Force in World War II. He worked in many places including Bath Iron Works in Bath. He spent 34 years at the St. Regis Paper Company in Bucksport. He started the first personal income tax services, and with the help of Clarence Arnold, he founded the first car wash in Bucksport. Don became a 3rd selectman for the town of Orland and also served on the town’s school board. For many years, he was the moderator of the Orland Town meetings, among many other towns. Don became a member of the Solar Masonic Lodge in Bath in 1942, transferring to the Rising Sun Lodge in Orland in 1946. There, he eventually became the lodge’s master. He was exalted in the Hancock Chapter in Bucksport, eventually becoming its high priest. He was a knight and commander of Palestine commandary in Belfast. He was also a member of the Anah Temple Shrine in Bangor. He was a member of King Solomon’s Council in Belfast, becoming its illustrious master. Don joined the Scottish Rite Valley of Rockland, becoming its most wise master. He was a member of the Consistory in Portland; Tammerlane Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine, serving as sovereign. Don was elected grand secretary to the Grand Chapter for three years. He joined the K.Y.C.H., Knight York Cross of Honor, becoming its prior. He was elected to the grand council, becoming its illustrious grand master. He was president of the Past Officers Association. He was appointed the district deputy grand master of the Fourth District. He was elected president of the Order of High Priesthood. He was elected junior warden and then was elected to be the grand treasurer of the Grand Chapter, in which capacity he served for nine years. He was honored by being appointed honorary past grand high priest. He was coronated as a 33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason in Pittsburgh, Pa. He established the Donald E. Bowden Royal Arch Chapter Masonic Scholarship Fund for college-bound high school seniors which awards 10 $4000 scholarships annually. Don’s other memberships included: thrice illustrious grand master, life member of the Hancock County Shrine Club, Knight Masons, Royal Order of Scotland, District Deputy Associates most illustrious grand sovereign, imperial grand council of the Knights of the Red Cross of Constantine, knight preceptor, patron of Riverside Order of the Eastern Star in Orland, the board of Orland United Methodist Church, the deaconate of the Bucksport Congregational Church, the Orland Historical Society and the Orland Victory Grange. He received the 50-year Veterans’ Medal in 1992 and received the first five-year star in 1997. He wrote a series of articles and pamphlets on the history of the early skills and trades of Orland as well as the surrounding towns. Don was married for 61 years to Minnie Brown Bowden, who died Dec. 11, 2000. He is survived by his one daughter, Sandra Dillon, an instrumental music teacher, in Philadelphia, Pa.; four nieces, JoAnn Wainright of Houston, Texas, Donna Manson Salisbury of Severna Park, Md., Peggy Cote of Westbrook, Suzi Wooster of Saco; great-niece and nephews, Carla Salisbury Mulhern and Buddy Salisbury of Maryland, Robert Dorr and Richard Dorr of Maine. Visitation for family and friends will be held 6-8 p.m. Monday, June 12, with Masonic services 7 p.m. at the Mitchell-Tweedie Funeral Home, 28 Elm St., Bucksport. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Interment will be at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Augusta. Donations in Don’s name may be made to the Scottish Rite Masonic 32nd Degree Learning Center, P.O. Box 235, Bangor, ME 04401-0725.