Ken Bowden

Kenneth Bowden of Massachusetts and Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas died peacefully on December 17, 2023 surrounded by people who loved him at White River Medical Center in Batesville, Arkansas.

He was born in Arlington, Massachusetts on December 14, 1947, the oldest son oGilbert and Margaret Bowden. He graduated from Agawam High School in 1965. At 17 he enlisted in the Air Force during the Vietnam War and was stationed in Alaska and Wisconsin. While in Wisconsin he met and married the love of his life, Nancy K. Mayberry; in August they celebrated 55 years of marriage. Together they raised three daughters, and he went on to be the best grandpa, aka Bubba, to eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He worked hard to provide for his girls while he attended night school at American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts. After graduation he started his career working with Zeke Gourley as a Professional Business Consultant, eventually owning his own firm, Berkshire Professional Management. He belonged to the National Society of Certified Healthcare Business Associates, serving as president for a year and contributing to Medical Economics magazine. In 2014 he retired, moved to Horseshoe Bend to build on "his" lake to fish, and found time to volunteer with the Auxiliary Police Department, checking on shut-ins and directing traffic for parades, thoroughly enjoying small town life.

In spite of all the time Ken spent working, he still spent as much time with family as he could. When money was tight, that meant driving down dirt roads in the old Corolla, road trips to his in-laws in Wisconsin, and visiting his family in Maine. In better days he took the whole family to St. Lucia and Washington, D.C. There were the annual once-in-a-lifetime fishing trips with his brothers to Saskatchewan that became the highlight of his year, family camping trips, weekly wine nights, and annual sledding parties in the Pittsfield State Park. His thrifty Scottish nature led him to learn to fix all he things, be it a jet engine or a new room in the basement.

Ken will be sorely missed by his girls: Nancy Bowden, Jennifer Iorio (Jason) of Farmington, Arkansas, Melissa Kratovil of Oxford, Arkansas, and Alison Zamboni of Pittsfield, Massachusetts; his grandchildren: Derek, Collin Heath, Alexa, Matthew, Molly Bowden, McKenna, Jesse Zamboni, and Payden (Austin) Phillips; Melissa's step-children: Jordan, Elyse, and Brendan Kratovil; great-grandchildren: Julian and Elijah, who helped push around his wheelchair any chance they got. Also surviving are his brothers, Jim and Ron Bowden of Montana and his only sister, Carol Kinsley of Massachusetts. He will be missed by Nancy's siblings: Bruce, Joe, Tim, Sarah, Abigail, John, Mike, Josh, Andrew, and Samantha along with their spouses and children.

He was predeceased by his parents; his son-in-law, Scott Kratovil; brothers-in-law, Donald Kinsley, Stephen Mayberry, and John Washburn; and his niece, Patricia England.

Services will be January 6, 2024 at Ken and Nancy's house in Horseshoe Bend. Contact the family for details or zoom instructions.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Parkinson's research. The family expresses their deepest appreciation to the staff at Pioneer Nursing and Rehab and White River Medical Center for their care and compassion.