William Bowne
Wednesday
11
October

Calling Hours

9:00 am - 11:00 am
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
Enea Family Funeral Home St. Johnsville
9 Center Street
St. Johnsville, New York, United States
Wednesday
11
October

Funeral Service

11:00 am - 11:30 am
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
Enea Family Funeral Home St. Johnsville
9 Center Street
St. Johnsville, New York, United States

Obituary of William T. Bowne

EAST STONE ARABIA - William Thomas “Bill” Bowne, 93, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, October 8, 2017, at the St. Johnsville Residential and Nursing Center, with his loving family by his side.

 

He was born on July 19, 1924, in Gloversville, New York, son of William A. and Marion (Walrath) Bowne. His family moved to Canajoharie, NY when he was five, and he spent the next eight years of his life in his beloved Canajoharie, making friends with all he met. The family moved to Lockport, NY when he was a teen. He graduated from Lockport High School in 1943 and enlisted in the US Army, becoming part of the Greatest Generation. He attended Syracuse University following the war, and graduated in 1949 with a B. S. degree in Business Administration. He began his career with General Electric in Schenectady, NY.

 

On November 1, 1952, Bill married Jeanne M. Schwarz of Gloversville, NY. His business career thrived, and he transferred with GE to Pittsfield, Massachusetts. He then took advantage of an opportunity to return to Canajoharie, NY by joining the Beech-Nut company as its Personnel Manager. Following a business trip to California in 1965, he accepted a position with Varian Associates in Palo Alto, CA. In 1967, he returned to GE in Pittsfield, MA, working in the Ordnance Department there until 1972, when he was hired by Grinnell Fire Protection Systems in Providence, Rhode Island. A skilled communicator, he was valued by upper management and co-workers alike for his ability to research and teach industrial procedures. He was founder of the Industrial Communication Council.

 

Bill retired in 1989, and moved with Jeanne to Hendersonville, North Carolina. While living in NC, they developed a lifelong interest in genealogy, which prompted them to return to NY to research and write their families' histories.

 

Bill loved the Lord, and was a man of deep faith. A music lover, Bill played piano and guitar most of his life. He also tried his hand at songwriting. He loved his family, animals, travel, camping and fishing. He traveled with Jeanne and their children to many of America's National Parks.

 

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Jeanne, of East Stone Arabia, NY, their three children, Holly Bowne of East Stone Arabia, Constance Bowne of Syracuse, NY, and William “Tom” Bowne Jr., of Coventry, RI, nine grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

 

He was predeceased by his parents and his brother, Robert Bowne.

 

Calling hours are scheduled on Wednesday morning October 11, 2017, from 9:00 – 11:00 am, at The Enea Family Funeral Home, 9 Center St., St. Johnsville, NY. Services will follow at 11:00 am with Rev. David A. Johnson presiding. Burial will be at Pine Grove Cemetery, Tribes Hill, NY.

 

The family has been assisted by Funeral Directors Harry J. & Kevin E. Enea & Martin L. Ciaccia (518) 568-2300. To leave an online note of sympathy, please visit www.eneafamily.com on the Internet.

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