Mr. Newman "Newt" Bowden, Jr.

Mr. Newman “Newt” Floyd Bowden, Jr., was born on September 27, 1943, to Helen “Sue” Pavlak and Newman Floyd Bowden, Sr. in South Hampton, New Jersey. He died peacefully at home in Dawsonville, GA, from thyroid cancer (ATC) on May 29, 2025. His father was in the Coast Guard where they lived in Hereford Inlet Lighthouse in North Wildwood, NJ. At twelve years old, while his father was out at sea, Newt controlled the lights for incoming ships. His younger sister, Sue Coralino, was born while they were living there. They later moved to Groton, Connecticut where Newt was a cub and boy scout and was confirmed in the Catholic Church, Sacred Heart. He attended Robert E. Fisch High School in 1961. After graduation, he attended Texas Christian University where he majored in Business. He joined the US Navy in September 1963 to become a flight officer. He later served as Integrated Operation Officer and flew off aircraft carriers. He also served in the Vietnam War. His cruises were on the USS Ranger from 1966-1967, then he served on the Intrepid from 1968-1969, and his third cruise was on the USS Kitty Hawk from 1973-1974. He flew the EA6B and many other aircrafts. While on leave in 1966, he married Carolyn McCord and they had two children, daughter, Dawn and a son, Newman, III. While he was overseas his wife filed for divorce. He has four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. After his Navy tenure, he worked in Aerospace at Northrop Grumman in Hawthorne, California, and was a Program Manager for the Peace Keeper Missile Program. He was instrumental in developing the Inertial Navigation Instrument (a floating ball) and later went on to teach Isreal how to operate the ball. He also worked with the Stealth Bomber Program. Also at Northrop, Newt achieved his master’s degree in business management from Pepperdine University. While working at Northrop, he met Patricia Seymour Reaves and fell in love. They dated for several years and married on August 25, 2000, on an avocado farm in Somis, California. From the marriage he acquired two stepchildren, Michelle Reaves Schroeder (Brady Schroeder) and John Reaves, Jr. His step-grandchildren are Katelyn and Lindsey Schroeder. Newt and Patricia retired from Aerospace and settled in Dawsonville, GA on Thanksgiving 2004. Newt loved sports cars and acquired many 911 Carrera Porsches over the years. As a member of the Porsche Club of America, he won a 911 Carrera with a $50 raffle ticket. He and Patricia enjoyed five river cruises to Europe. Newt was a compassionate, humble, and loving man. Some of his friends said he was, “the most amazing man in America.” A graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 7, 2025, in the Hill Cemetery in Bowman, GA. Everyone is also invited to gather afterwards at The Bowman House restaurant. Pruitt Funeral Home in Royston, GA is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Newman "Newt" Bowden, Jr.

September 27, 1943 - May 29, 2025