Published in the May 29, 2018 edition.
NIANTIC, Conn. — Gretchen Elizabeth Bowker, 90, of Niantic, Conn., formerly of Madison, Conn. and Bath, Maine, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 24, 2018. She was born on April 8, 1928 at home in Wakefield, Mass., the daughter of John H. Beebe, Jr. and Stephanie Doane Beebe.
She graduated from Wakefield High School in 1946 and pursued studies at Kents Hill School, in Kents Hill, Maine. She worked at R.H. Stearns and R.H. White in downtown Boston, and Elmhurst, Inc. in Bath, Maine where she assisted in adult care and activity programs for adults with cognitive disabilities and autism. In later years she work at Greaves Corporation in Guilford, Conn.
On June 16, 1951 she married Arthur M. Bowker of Bath, Maine and shortly thereafter moved to Japan to join her husband after he enlisted in the Air Force. After two years she settled down in Phippsburg, Maine in a farmhouse overlooking the Kennbec River.
She enjoyed traveling, spending summers at Popham Beach, and most of all spending time with family and friends.
She is survived by son John Bowker of Douglas, Mass. and his wife Ionizia; son Christopher Bowker of Lake Havasu, Ariz., and wife Tami; granddaughters Alexis Folsom and Amanda Bowker; grandson Christopher Bowker, Jr. and great-grandchildren Cooper and Cora Folsom. Additionally; sister-in-law Mildred Beebe, and nieces Martha MacLean and her husband Charlie; Jennifer Drouin and her husband Jim, Heather Upton, and great niece Debbie Upton Helvig and husband Ken. The youngest of three children she was predeceased by sister Priscilla Martha Durward and her husband Malcolm Durward; brother John Beebe; ex-husband Arthur Bowker, and a niece Heidi Durward Delaney.
A private family service will be held at a future date.
