William M. Bowes

1925 - 2015

COOPERSTOWN - William Morris Bowes, 89, died Tuesday afternoon, February 3, 2015, at Fulton Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare in Gloversville.

Born May 12, 1925, in Albany, he was the son of Thomas C. and Margaret (Dilts) Bowes.  

Raised in Oneonta, he attended St. Mary's Catholic School and graduated from Oneonta High School. On May 8, 1943, Bill entered into active duty with the United States Navy and served his country during World War II as a Radioman. He was stationed onboard the USS Santee -- an aircraft carrier -- and was involved in many naval battles. Bill could still recall with clarity October 25, 1944, the day a kamikaze plane crashed into her flight deck, immediately followed by a torpedo fired from a Japanese submarine. "I saw that torpedo come right towards us and explode." Though Bill was proud of his military service, his greatest wish was for world peace. America has lost another hero of the greatest generation. Like all those who served and passed before him, he will be on eternal patrol. On February 13, 1946, he received his honorable discharge.  

Following his military service, he attended St. Bernadine of Siena College in Loudonville, graduating in 1951 with a degree in sociology.

From 1951 to 1956 he was employed as a resident inspector of Naval Material at the Scintilla Magneto Bendix Aviation Corporation in Sidney. He then went to work for Pratt and Whitney Aircraft Corporation as a supervisor for Quality Assurance, and travelled extensively throughout the United States, the Middle East and Europe. He retired in 1987 and resided in Leesburg, Florida. In August 2005, Bill moved to Cooperstown and joined his sister, Alberta, at the Clara Welch Thanksgiving Home.

A communicant of St. Mary's "Our Lady of the Lake" Roman Catholic Church in Cooperstown, Bill was also a cherished life member of the Clark F. Simmons American Legion Post No. 579 and the Sgt. Walter P. Eggleston Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 7128 in Cooperstown, as well as the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge No. 1312 in Oneonta.  

Bill was predeceased by his beloved sister, Alberta Anna Bowes, who died June 16, 2014.   

A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a.m. on Saturday, February 14, 2015, at St. Mary's "Our Lady of the Lake" Roman Catholic Church in Cooperstown, with Fr. John P. Rosson, pastor, presiding.

Burial with Military Honors will take place later this Spring in Mount Calvary Cemetery in Emmons, where Bill will be laid to rest near his parents and sister.  

Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.


If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.