John R. Bowden, Jr.

On Friday, January 15, 2016, God called home His soldier John Robert Bowden, Jr. Born May 1, 1942 in Uniontown, he was a son of the late John Robert Bowden Sr. and Ruth Castore Bowden. Bob served our country for 23 years active duty with the US Air Force in Vietnam and later, in the US Army during Desert Storm. His third war was fighting Myelodysplastic Syndrome since September 2014. Bob attended college in the early 1980’s at the age of 40, received his undergraduate degree in social work from California University of Pennsylvania. He continued on to receive his master’s degree in social work at the University of Pittsburgh. His career first led him to Franklin, PA to work in Family and Youth Services, then Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base in NC, and finally, the VA Hospital System in Oakland and Aspinwall, PA. On May 28, 1994, Bob married Diana Wagner Marker Bowden, and has since lived in Vanport. It was then that Bob became a father to Mike and Eric Marker. Bob was very active in many organizations. He was a faithful member of Faith Community United Methodist Church in Rochester, where he belonged to the Open Door Sunday School Class, was a lay reader, and sang in the church choir. Bob was a member of Vietnam Veterans, Inc., in Uniontown, and Vietnam Veterans of America in Rochester. He belonged to the Masonic Lodge 45, Pittsburgh. He was proud to be part of the 1st class of the Citizens Police Academy of Beaver County. Bob was a board member of the Rochester Quarterback Club and enjoyed selling raffle tickets with his good friend, Jerry. Bob also served on the board of directors of Family Services of Beaver County. Bob looked forward to his Wednesday meetings with his PTSD buddies at the VA Clinic in Monaca. Surviving are his wife of 23 years, Diana; son Mike and his children Dylan and Clarissa; son Eric, his wife Jackie and their son Benjamin, all of Beaver. Also surviving is his only brother James Bowden and wife Roberta of Mt Lebanon; nephew Daniel Bowden of Carrick; father- in- law, Charles Wagner, and brother-in-law Denis Wagner and wife Pam, all of Charleroi. Preceding him in death, in addition to his parents, was his Aunt Thelma Castore of Uniontown, and his ‘favorite mother-in-law’ Virginia Wagner of Charleroi. Friends will be received Tuesday, January 19, from 2 until 4 pm and 6 until 8 pm in the Noll Funeral Home, 333 Third Street, Beaver, and on Wednesday, January 20 from 9:30am until 10:30 am, to be followed by a funeral service in the Faith Community United Methodist Church in Rochester at 11 am. Military Honors will be rendered following the funeral service. A private interment will take place at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, Bridgeville, PA. Online condolences may be shared at nollfuneral.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Faith Community United Methodist Church, 341 Jefferson Street, Rochester, PA 15074, or Rochester Quarterback Club. The family would like to thank Dr. Grace Tarabay and her staff, the IV blood infusion team at Heritage Valley Hospital, the loving care from Personal Touch Home Health Care, Tom Preston and the VA Clinic Staff, Dr. Chris Gehrlein, Mother Teresa Hospice, and his nephew Dan who helped with his care.