PENOBSCOT – Basil C. Bowden, 78, died peacefully in his sleep April 27, 2010, at home. He was born Dec. 24, 1931, in South Penobscot, to Leeman and Ethel (Perkins) Bowden. He graduated from Clark High School in 1949 and Husson College with a Bachelor of Science in business administration in 1957. He served in the U.S. Army, 1952-1954, in Korea. He taught business classes and later co-operative education in Blue Hill at George Stevens Academy, 1957-1978. He was a business education instructor at Penobscot Job Corps, 1978-1989. He enjoyed summers cutting and selling firewood and doing fireworks displays throughout the state. After retiring from teaching, he worked various jobs, caretaking and mowing lawns. Throughout the years he had been a baseball coach, Boy Scout leader, president of Penobscot PTA, president of Union River Stamp Club, treasurer for Blue Hill Public Library and member of Penobscot Volunteer Fire Department. Basil was a devoted and unfailingly dependable husband and father. He made friends easily and enjoyed seeing them wherever he went. Basil is survived by his wife of nearly 50 years, Mabel (Leach) Bowden; his two dear sons, Basil C. Bowden and David R. Bowden; eight wonderful grandchildren whom he loved dearly, Nicole and Josh Bowden, children of David and Denise Bowden, and Abby, Henry, Spencer, Alice, Susan and Thomas Bowden, children of Basil and Kristen Bowden; a sister, Priscilla Bowden; three sisters-in-law, Sashiko Bowden, Mary Lee Bowden and Eileen Webber; brother-in-law, Dwight Webber; several nieces and nephews; and cousins, Boyd Bowden of Presque Isle, Pauline Farrar of Brewer, Shirley Eaton and Sandra DiPvizio of New Hampshire. He was predeceased by two brothers, Albert and Paul Bowden; and a sister, Alda Small. Consistent with Basil’s wishes, there will be no services. In lieu of flowers, anyone may make memorial contributions to Penobscot Fire Department, care of Dennis Robertson, P.O. Box 20, Penobscot, ME 04476. Arrangements are under the direction of Mitchell-Tweedie Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 28 Elm St., Bucksport.
BASIL C. BOWDEN
