James A. Bowden Sr.

Longtime Greenport resident James. A Bowden Sr. died Dec. 1. He was 85.

The son of Lester Bowden and Goldie (Place), he was born Feb. 24, 1930, in Ellsworth, Maine and was the younger brother of Clyde and Ken.

Mr. Bowden served in the Korean War, where he was stationed for four years in Germany and held the rank of master sergeant. He continued working for the U.S. Government for an additional 36 years, where he was employed as a USRO and boiler plant operator for the United States Department of Agricultgure (USDA) Plum Island Animal Disease Center.

Family members said Mr. Bowden was good, kind-hearted, and and avid lover of nature and history. His son, James, described him as “the type of person who would take off his only jacket and give it to you during the worst snow storm.”He also loved caring for his roses, especially his favorite – the Queen Elizabeth Rose.

In addition to his son, Mr. Bowden is survived by his former spouse, Gertrude Bowden; his granddaughter, grandson and great-grandson; and his stepbrother, Charles Place of California.

Mr. Bowden was buried at Calverton National Cemetery with full military honors.