John Bowden Obituary

John Hearn Bowden RALEIGH, NC - John Hearn Bowden, 67, long time resident of Raleigh, passed away Monday at Duke Raleigh Hospital, in the company of his family and friends, with his beloved wife Suzi at his side. A loving husband, father, son and brother, John was known to be an avid sportsman - passionate, competitive fisherman and hunter - as well as an enthusiastic fan of most viewer sports. He engaged with various circles of close friends fishing the NC coastal and mountain waters, Colorado and Wyoming rivers, Salmon River in New York, the Aniak River in Alaska; wing-shooting in Saskatchewan; elk or whitetail hunting in Montana, Texas, and Mexico; duck hunting at Canvasback Landing Club, or deer hunting at the Old Dam Hunt Club in Halifax County and Franklin County Hunt Club; and enjoyed 2 memorable hunting expeditions in South Africa. John and Suzi shared a love of fly fishing which took them to Costa Rica, Belize, Honduras, Wyoming, Utah, Cape Lookout, the NC Outer Banks, and their favorite hideaway on Little Cayman Island. In Raleigh John enjoyed membership and outings with Triangle Fly Fishers, NC Coastal Conservation Association, Safari Club International, Ducks Unlimited, a private 'Monday lunch bunch' and the Robert Ruark Association. John especially loved reading Ruark's books, and was a voracious reader in general. John is the son of the late Colonel John Wilson Bowden and Mary Hearn Bowden, who survives him. In addition to his mother, he is survived by his wife of nearly17 years, Suzi Adams Bowden, of Raleigh, and his children, Michael and Kate, both of Raleigh; sister, Beth B. Georgen and her husband Bob of Charleston, S.C.; nephew and niece, Robert and Sarah Georgen; and his Aunt Katie Hicks of Summerville, S.C. John was born April 27, 1942 in Jackson, Alabama near Monroeville, the family home. However, according to his father's military assignments, he lived his childhood on various US Army bases, several years in Japan after WWII, and spent his high school years in Hawaii where he attended Iolani High School, following which he graduated from the University of Alabama. His early career included teaching, Safeco Insurance in Florida, sales manager for Hallmark greeting cards and Armour Pharmaceuticals. John then established himself in a lifelong insurance career that began at Stockton White and led him to opening his own company, Bowden Insurance. Eventually in 1986 he merged his company to form a successful partnership with Paul Hoover of Durfey Hoover Inc, which continues today as Durfey Hoover Bowden Insurance. Professionally John maintained his CPCU designation and was an active member of Crabtree Rotary. A memorial service will be held Thursday, July 16th at 11:00 a.m. at White Memorial Presbyterian Church, 1704 Oberlin Road, in the main sanctuary. Following the service, the family will receive friends in the Jane Bell gathering space. A private interment was held prior to the service. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in John's name to North Carolina Lung Cancer Partnership (specify NC Chapter) online or sent to P.O. Box 14305 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. Arrangements by BRYAN-LEE FUNERAL HOME, 831 Wake Forest Rd. Raleigh, NC. Condolences may be made through www.bryan-leefuneralhome.com. Visit our guestbook at www.postandcourier.com/deaths