More detail on this person: Thomas Edward
Bowen, born March 29, 1940 to Edward D. and
Betty Basford Bowen in Marion, Ohio, passed away
March 4, 2014 of a heart attack in his sleep due
to complications from COPD.
After graduatIng from Harding High school, Marion
Ohio he enlisted in the Navy for four years,
performing aircraft maintenance aboard the USS
Ranger. When his enlistment was served he moved
to Columbus, Ohio where he attended Ohio State
Univ. while also learning to fly. It was there
that he met and married Sue Cole of Columbus in
1963. They had two children, David Andrew and
Diane Elaine.
In 1964 Tom enlisted in the U.S. Army to become a
helicopter pilot. Following his completion of
training he was sent to Vietnam and was a pilot in
a "HUEY" helicopter, stationed in Soc Trang
province. Returning from Vietnam he spent many
years in the Army reserve.
He and the family relocated to San Diego, CA in
1975 where he entered Western State School of
Law, receiving a Juris Doctorate.
In 1977 he moved to Fallbrook, CA. He started
working for General Dynamics and retired from
General Dynamics as a areospace engineer.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents, his
first wife, Sue, his sister, Judy Velandra and
nephew John Velandra.
He is survived by his second wife, Ardis, since
1977; his two children, Diane Hicks (David) of TN,
and son, David Bowen; as well as grandchildren,
Brittany and Zachary Hicks and Christine and
Michael Bowen; and great grandchildren, Nicholas,
Noah and Benjamin Dotson.
He will be interred at Fort Rosecrans cemetery and
will join Sue overlooking the ocean. There will be
no service. He is missed very much by all who
knew and loved him.
Published in the The Marion Star on Mar. 30, 2014
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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