Richard J. "dick" Bowen

Richard J. "Dick" Bowen, age 83 longtime resident of Plaistow, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 21, 2014 at Penacook Place in Haverhill, MA. He was born on February 19, 1931 in Brockton, MA the son of the late Edmund and Elsie (Moberg) Bowen. He was raised and educated in Palmer, MA and graduated from Palmer High School Class of 1949. He attended Springfield College.

Dick enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps right out of high school. He served his country during the Korean War.

He worked for many years at MIT-Draper Labs in Cambridge, MA and was involved with design projects for the Apollo Space Program. He had also worked for Raytheon Corp. and travelled overseas working on their missile systems. He had worked for Kollsman Instruments in Merrimack, NH and worked on projects related to radar altimeters and thermal night sights for the M1 Tank. He retired in the early 1990s.

Dick was an avid lifelong shooting enthusiast and gun collector. He loved history and was a founding member of the Plaistow Historical Society. He helped to plan the first Plaistow Old Home Days event. He was an active member of the Newton Country Pond Fish & Game Club for many years. An avid outdoorsman, he loved camping and canoeing. He enjoyed woodworking and made many projects that were given as gifts to family and friends. As a younger man, he enjoyed car rallies and races for many years.

He was predeceased by his spouse, Phyllis M. (Loring)(Tarbox) Bowen in 2012. He is survived by his daughter, Robin J. Bracero and husband, Jorge of Manchester, NH. His sons, Alan D. Bowen of Plaistow, NH, John P. "Jack" Bowen and wife, Denise of Kingston, NH and Christopher E. Bowen and wife, Lea of Plaistow, NH. 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren also survive him.

Family and friends are invited to call on Thursday, June 26, 2014 from 5 – 8 PM at Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home, 116 Main Street (Rt. 121A), Plaistow, NH 03865. His funeral will begin at 8 AM on Friday, June 27, 2014 with a Funeral Mass at 9 AM at Holy Angels Church of St. Luke the Evangelist Parish in Plaistow. Burial will follow in Holy Angels Cemetery in Plaistow.

Memorial donations are requested to:
Plaistow Historical Society
127 Main Street
Plaistow, NH 03865