YARMOUTH – Roger Chase Bowker Sr., 93, of Cousins Island, passed peacefully at home on March 8, 2022, with his loving companion of 28 years, Edna Selberg, by his side.

Born in Portland to Ralph H. and Pauline (Chase) Bowker, Roger lived an idyllic and adventurous childhood growing up in Portland and the islands of Casco Bay. From a very young age he helped his father run the boats of Inner Bay Lines Inc, a charter boat business providing tour and fishing excursions in the bay and shore dinners at their property on Little Diamond Island. Thus began his enduring love of boating and the ocean.

He graduated from Deering High School in 1947 and continued his education at the University of Maine at Orono graduating in 1951. During his years there he made close life-long friends amongst his fraternity brothers at Lambda Chi Alpha and was proud of his participation in the ROTC.

It was while working on one of his father’s boats during summer break that he first laid eyes on Margaret “Peggy” Crawford. The story goes that he turned to the friend he was with and proclaimed “That’s the girl I’m going to marry!”, and he did!

Soon after their marriage, Roger’s two-year stint in the Army began and he was stationed at Fort Riley, Kan., where he and Peggy welcomed their first child, Candice Ann. Upon his honorable discharge from service, they returned to Maine and he joined his uncle, Dana Bowker, at C. M. Bowker Co., the family insurance agency started by Roger’s grandfather in 1898. Not long after, they welcomed their second child, a son, R. Chase Jr., and, a few years later, their second daughter, Nannette.

Roger and Peggy had a love of travel and the outdoors which they shared with their children, whether boating along the Maine Coast, camping out on the islands, or skiing at Sugarloaf. In the summer of 1968, the family hooked up a 17’ travel trailer to the back of the station wagon and set out for six weeks exploring the USA on a wonderful adventure.

Roger had a long successful career as a trusted agent to many clients. He was of the era when a man’s handshake was his word. He was elected President of the Mutual Agents Assn of NE by his peers and was also voted Mr. Mutual Agent of the Year. He belonged at various times to the Masons, the Lions Club, the Woodfords Club and the Downeast Yacht Club and he coached Farm League and Little League.

In 1992, Roger was devastated when Peggy passed at 61 after 40 happy years of marriage. But he was lucky to find himself in love once again several years later when he and Edna Selberg, the widow of his cousin Wayne Selberg, became a couple. The families comfortably merged as Roger’s children and Edna’s children were cousins. Edna and Roger proved to be a great match and they enjoyed their retirement years by traveling extensively by motorhome, crisscrossing the country from Maine to Alaska and the Canadian provinces. After seeing everything they wanted to see, they bought a home in Venice, Fla. and enjoyed many years there, golfing and making new friends.

A man of varied interests over the years, Roger enjoyed dancing (he could really “cut a rug”), hunting, fishing, skiing, snowmobiling, bridge, cribbage, bowling, tennis, swimming and golf (his passion in retirement, playing until he was 90). He and Peggy and later he and Edna had a large close-knit group of friends who shared their zest for life: the Branns, the Smiths, the Hutchins, the Perkins, the Parkers, the Johnsons, the Pias, the Gerrys. Roger was a naturally curious, outgoing person who could strike up a conversation with anyone (just ask Edna). Known as Roger, Rog, Bowkie, Mr. B, Mr. Bonkers, Gramps, Big Gramps and Dad, he was truly a special man and he will be missed.

We would like to thank his caregivers, Sue (who went above and beyond) and Danielle, both of Maine Home Care Solutions and his night caregivers Bonnie and Darlene. You are all wonderful.

He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 40 years, Peggy; and his daughter, Candice Ann Berry and Edna’s son, Eric Selberg.

He is survived by his devoted companion of 28 years, Edna Selberg; his son, Chase Bowker (Sue), his daughter, Nannette Wirth (Ted); his grandchildren Chase Berry (Heather), Matthew Bowker (Amanda), Nicole Holt (Stephen); great-grandchildren Quinton Berry, Margaret Berry, Caroline Bowker and Isla Bowker; plus Edna’s children Karen Richardson (Dennis), Jay Selberg and Kristy Selberg; and his daughter Candie’s long-time companion, Dick Barter, and his daughters April and Melissa.

Visiting hours will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, March 15, at A.T. Hutchins Funeral Home. A funeral service will follow at the funeral home at 3 p.m. Burial will be later in the spring at Cousins Island Cemetery.

To share memories of Roger or to leave the family an online condolence please visit, http://www.athutchins.com.

Those who wish to memorialize Roger may make a contribution to the American Heart Assn in his name.

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