BETHEL — Alanson “Bud” Bowden Jr., 92, of Bethel, passed away at home on Sunday, Aug. 29, surrounded by loving family following a brief illness. He was the beloved husband of the late Florine E. (Bean) Bowden for 61 very happy years.

He was born June 21, 1918, in Fort Fairfield the year World War I ended. He would live to fight in another World War.

He was the son of Annabelle (Grant) Bowden and Alanson W. Bowden Sr. He grew up in Rumford and graduated from Stephens High School. He enlisted in the Navy during WWII and served from 1942-1946. He served in the Pacific Theatre where he was a Navigator/Aviation Machinist 2nd Class on the B-24 Liberator airplanes. Although he never spoke much of his military service over the years, his family was very proud of the fact that he personally attained the following awards: the Distinguished Flying Cross with two gold stars and the Air Medal with five gold stars.

Bud graduated from the University of Lowell, Mass., in 1950 as a Dean’s List student. He later went on to manage Peter Karen Manufacturing Co in Lincoln, R.I., and subsequently co-owned Lincoln Textile Co. in Woonsocket, R.I., and Lincoln Weaving Co in Lowell, Mass. Upon retiring in 1985, he and his beloved wife Florine returned to their Maine roots and built their dream log cabin in Albany Township. They were “Snowbirds” for many years who spent winters in Zephyrhills, Fla., where they had many good friends.

He was a member of the Bethel Masonic Lodge No. 97 and the Albany Congregational Church. He was a former longtime member of the Bethel Inn Country Club and the Gloucester, R.I., Country Club.

Bud had a passion for the game of golf! In his lifetime he realized the golfer’s dream of attaining not one but two holes in one. He was also an avid lifetime Boston Red Sox fan who lived to see them win the World Series title in 2004 for the first time since the year he was born.

He is survived by his three children, Keith H. Bowden of Melrose, Mass., Gail F. Olson and her husband, Garry, of Johnston, R.I., and Judith D. Coletta and her husband, Michael, of Woonsocket, R.I.; one beloved younger sister, Nella Perkins of Bolton, Mass.; eight grandchildren, Glenn Bowden and Valerie Bowden of Melrose, Mass., Vaughn Gavlin and Lauren Gavlin of Woonsocket, R.I., and Ross Gavlin of Pawtucket, R.I., Rachel Kirkland and her husband Dan of Coventry, R.I., Leah Gross and her husband, Glenn, of Oolitic, Ind., and Heather Butler-Horne and her husband, Bill, of Warwick, R.I.; and 11 great-grandchildren. He was excited about the upcoming arrival of his first great-great-grandchild, due in November. He was a favorite uncle to many nieces and nephews and a good friend to all. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Florine; two brothers, Malcolm and Wallace; two sisters Mildred and Elsie; and a daughter-in-law, Bonnie Bowden.

The entire family owes a deep debt of gratitude to his sister-in-law Muriel Butters of Bethel for her constant kindness and commitment to Bud in the last years of his life. And he also leaves a special sister-in-law. Edna M. York. of Albany Township.

Thoughts, condolences and fond memories may be shared with the family at www.andrewsgreenleaf.com.