SCARBOROUGH – Richard “Dick” R. Bowles, 89, of Maine Veterans’ Home in Scarborough, passed away peacefully on Oct. 7, 2024, from complications associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
He was born Oct. 14, 1934, in Boston, Mass., son of George L. and Sarah (Hopkins) Bowles. In his younger years the family summered on Peaks Island, and in the mid-1940s, they moved to Portland. Dick grew up in the Munjoy Hill section of Portland and was a 1953 graduate of Portland High School.
Dick enlisted in and served in the military from 1953 to 1960, first in the Army and later transferred to the Air Force. He was stationed in Alaska and spent service time in Europe. He enjoyed traveling and liked to share stories. He later settled in the Boulder, Colo. area and was employed by the IBM Corporation for 25-plus years, retiring in 1992. He would often travel back to Maine in the summers to vacation at Higgins Beach with family. He relocated back to the Portland area after retirement.
He was predeceased by his parents; brothers George W. Bowles, John J. Scavoni, sisters Mildred Good, Theresa M. Conley, Jean A. Bowles, Rita E. Porciello, and his twin, Joann L. Flaherty. He was also predeceased by many in-laws; and nieces and nephews.
He is survived by many nieces and nephews and numerous grand-nieces and nephews.
Dick was a calm, respectful, friendly man who enjoyed Boston Pops music and oldies music stations. He enjoyed walking and taking trips to Fort Williams in Cape Elizabeth. We will all miss his gentleman like mannerisms and the games of cribbage that he so much enjoyed playing.
The family would like to thank the Maine Veterans’ Home staff and nursing team for their excellent care of Dick for the last 6-plus years.
There will be no public visiting hours and the family will have a private burial for relatives at Brooklawn Memorial Park in Portland. Arrangements are under the direction of the Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Home of Portland. To view Dick’s memorial page, or to share an online condolence, please visit http://www.ConroyTullyWalker.com
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