Gordon (Butch) Bowen is known for his strong will, his thirst for knowledge, and his gift for debate. As with his life, when his time came, he left on own his terms. Born on September 9, 1946, he returned his life energy to the earth on August 26, 2025.

Gordon was an avid traveler. In his truck and Airstream, he logged thousands of miles on the Alaska Highway and across the lower forty-eight to visit with family and friends, carrying his beloved Labradors along for the ride. He called many places home over the years, from the rugged deserts of Arizona and in his beloved cabin in Homer to vibrant cities in Europe. His passion for aviation-piloting gliders and planes, put his skills as a master mechanic to work, maintaining, building, and restoring planes. Gordon was a patented chemist, creating a unique compound, always covered in an epoxy resin much to the chagrin of his family.

Gordon’s career path was as varied as his travels. He managed McDonald’s, oversaw plastics operations at Goodyear, worked on an oil rig, and owned a water business. In 1964, he graduated from Paden City High School and went on to graduate from West Virginia University with a Bachelor of Science degree. Years later, he returned to school and earned a Master of Science degree from DePaul University in Chicago and went on to teach at the University of Maryland in Munich, Germany.

From an early age, Gordon was a rebel—a force of nature who lived fully and without compromise. In high school, he joined the Civil Air Patrol in Paden City, where he met his beloved partner, Sondra Campbell. Life’s winding paths took them in different directions for many years, but they found each other again. Sondra was by his side until his last day.

Gordon is survived by his two daughters, Michelle Munari and Jill Latchana; his brother, David Bowen; his sisters, Chris Bowen and Joyce Ferebee; grandchildren and great-grandchildren; sons-in-law and brothers-in-law; nephews, nieces, cousins, and dear friends. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Jessica Bowen, and his parents, Elwood and Eleanor Bowen.