NEWS
R.I.P. Captain
Robert Hayden Bowes
Robert Hayden Bowes died peacefully
on February 8, 2018 surrounded by his family at his home in Piney
Point, MD. Bobby was born May 23, 1941 at Providence Hospital in
Washington, DC. His family relocated to St. Mary’s County, MD in
1943 when the Patuxent River Naval Air Station was commissioned. He
attended Little Flower School and graduated from
Ryken High School in 1959. He attended the United States Air Force
Academy until 1961 when he returned to Southern Maryland to marry
his high school sweetheart, Patricia (Pat) Ann Usilton. They were
married at Holy Face Church in Great Mills on August 12, 1961. He
attended University of Maryland, was a member of the Tau Beta Pi
engineering honor society, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science
in aeronautical engineering in 1964. He then attended the U.S. Navy
Test Pilot School (TPS) and graduated with Class No. 44 in October
1966. Bob worked in the Flying Qualities and Performance Branch of
the Flight Test Division and was then transferred to TPS where he
taught from 1967-1978. Due to his exemplary performance both
academically and professionally, he was sent to Princeton University
and graduated with a Master of Science in engineering in 1969. He
was named the Rotary Wing Engineer of the Year in 1980 and was the
first recipient of the Richard L. Wernecke Award for technical
excellence in rotorcraft test and evaluation in 1988. He retired
after 28 years of civil service on April 15, 1988.
Despite
all of his education, merits, and accolades, he is best known as
“Captain Bob.” Bob started a charter fishing business in 1972 with
his best friend Robert Holden in order to support he and Pat’s
desire to provide a Catholic education for their seven children. Bob
loved being on the water and was always easy to spot with his bright
yellow hat! We all have wonderful memories of boat races, fishing,
overnight boat trips, and being his first mate. Over the years, Bob
used his skills on the water for various activities including
underwater recreational and inspection diving, renovation of SMECO
power line towers, logistics support and tidal studies for the U.S.
Geological Survey Team and the Naval Research Laboratory, and
salvage operations. He also used his boat to give back to his
community by providing fishing trips and boat rides for the children
at the Muscular Dystrophy camp at Camp Maria, rides for the elderly
and homeless with So Others Might Eat (SOME), and 43 years of
carrying passengers to the St. Clements Island Blessing of the Fleet
in support of the 7th District Optimist Club. He was named 7th
District Optimist Club Waterman of the Year in 2013.
In 2015 Bob and Pat were inducted in the Community Foundation of
Southern Maryland’s Philanthropy Hall of Fame for their work with
Little Flower Catholic School, St. Mary’s Ryken High School, St.
George’s Catholic Church, Hospice of St. Mary’s, Meals on Wheels,
2nd District Optimist Kids and Community group and driving St.
Mary’s Hospital employees to work during inclement weather.
Some of his favorite times were spent with his grandchildren,
great-grandchildren, and dogs. D-Daddy was well known for his
signature pat-on-the-back hug and a “Hey babe” in his gravelly
voice. He excelled at fixing everything we threw at him, mowing his
lawn down to 1”, healing wounded squirrels, building osprey nests,
collecting and setting up his trains, making sure we all turned the
lights off, and keeping us from running in the house.
He is
survived by his wife Patricia; seven children Robert (Mary), Mark
(Bonnie), Anne Taylor (Mark), Tommy (Joy), Jennifer Goddard (Mark),
J. Matthew Sr. (Cindy), David (Karen Bauer); twenty grand-children
Brittany Goddard, Erin Jordan (Andy), Jessica Abad (Ray), Kristin
Penrod (Jason), Kelsey Patterson (Gary), Kylie Errington (Grant),
Amy Latvala (Miller), Kevin Bowes (Nicole), Taylor Gladu (Tyler), J.
Matthew Jr., Amanda Staufenberger (Nick), Laci, Jenna Taylor, Carly,
Stephanie, Trisha, Trevor, Alexander, and Samantha; and ten
great-grandchildren Morrigan Metzger, Marissa Penrod, Charlotte
Williams, Bay Latvala, Sophie Williams, Crew Abad, Margot Patterson,
Hailey Penrod, Harper Latvala, and Andrew Jordan, with two more
great-grandchildren expected in March and April .
He is
preceded in death by his parents Joseph Ford and H. Audrey, his
brother Daniel, and his grandson Jason.
There is no way to
fully express the rich life of Bob Bowes, or the ways he touched so
many people. He was truly a man whose faults were outweighed by his
generous heart, exceptional intelligence, dedication to family, and
faith. He will be greatly missed by his family, his friends, and the
community.
Family will receive friends for Bobby’s Life
Celebration on Sunday, February 11, 2018 from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at
St. George’s Catholic Church, 19199 St. George’s Church Road, Valley
Lee, MD 20692 with prayers at 4:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held
Monday, February 12, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at St. George’s Catholic
Church.
Memorial contributions may be made to Little Flower
School 20410 Point Lookout Rd, Great Mills, MD 20634; St. George
Catholic Church, 19199 St. George Church Road, Valley Lee, MD 20692;
or Hospice of St. Mary’s P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650.
Condolences to the family may be made at
www.brinsfieldfuneral.com .
|
|
