Arnold Joseph Bowker, Jr.

Arnold Joseph ‘Joe’ Bowker, of Scituate, MA, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Sunday, April 7th, 2024. He is the son of the late Mary and Arnold Bowker, and was the loving husband of the late Alice Marie Bowker, with whom he shared 56 years of marriage.

Joe is predeceased by his siblings Lawrence; Christopher (Virginia); Cornelia Shea; and brother-in-law George Maloney. Joe is survived by his devoted sister Faith E. Maloney, his four children, Kevin, Philip, Stephen, and Julianne Bowker (Dominic Fabri), his two grandchildren Miles and Victor Bowker, their mom, Fiona Treacy (Dan Armstrong), as well as many in-laws and nieces and nephews.

Born on July 15th, 1937, Joe was raised in Scituate’s Minot neighborhood. He was a proud Scituate High School graduate, who went on to study at the University of Massachusetts Amherst before attending Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI. Joe then pursued a life of service, achieving the commissioned rank of Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy. Upon retiring from the Navy, he resumed his service to our nation through a career with the federal government.

Joe continued to foster his love of the ocean through years of dedication to the Scituate Harbor Yacht Club, where after serving on several committees, and appointment to the council he rose the ladder to become Commodore, and continued to serve on the council after his term. Docked at the SHYC marina, Joe spent many hours tinkering aboard the Peace ‘N Quiet, his Catalina 30. Anyone who rode with him at the helm knew Joe to be on the more adventurous side. He shared this spirit of sailing with his family, making many great memories and friends along the way.

Wintering in Naples, Florida, Joe and Alice enjoyed many connections. Chatting by the pool, meeting friends for dinner, or paying a visit to the Red Sox Spring Training offered many venues for socializing into his retirement years. They never left the rest of the family out of the fun, however, bringing the grandkids to Disney World or simply offering a warm place to relax.

A lifelong learner, Joe pursued courses at MIT during his Navy days and in later years, turned his efforts to illuminating the family history. He devoted hours to investigating the lineage of the Bowkers, linking us to many historical figures, all of which brought him much joy.

You could always find Joe in his favorite spots at home, relaxing to a wide variety of music, a sporting event on TV, or just the company of a beloved family dog.

Family and friends are invited to attend Visiting Hours on Thursday, April 11th, from 4-7 PM, in McNamara-Sparrell Funeral Home, 1 Summer Street, COHASSET. His Funeral Service will be held at St. Mary of the Nativity, 1 Kent Street, SCITUATE, at 11 AM on Friday, April 12th. Interment will be at Fairview Cemetery, Scituate, MA. In lieu of flowers, please consider sending donations to  the Peter Frampton Myositis Research Fund at https://www.hopkinsmyositis.org/gift/peter-frampton-myositis-research-fund/ or to the the Scituate Etrusco at https://www.scituateetrusco.org/

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