Donald J. Bowden

Donald J Bowden passed away on July 5, 2026 at home from complications of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He was born May 8,1955 in Chicago, Illinois, the son of the late Richard H. Bowden and Rita Lois Keane who moved the family to Timonium in 1964.

Don graduated from Dulaney Senior High School in 1973 with an honorable mention as the best athlete in the senior class. He lettered in soccer, track, and baseball. He went on to study at Loyola University (formerly Loyola College) and graduated in 1978. He worked his way through college at Pantry Pride in Padonia Village Shopping Center.

After receiving his degree in business administration, he began working for Maryland National Bank in the branch management training program. Within two years he was promoted to assistant branch manager of the Lutherville-Timonium office formerly in Heaver Plaza.

In 1981, Don took a position with the Controller’s Department at Westinghouse Defense in Linthicum. Westinghouse Defense was purchased by Northrop Grumman in 1996 and Don remained at Northrop in contract administration until July 2025, completing over 44 years of service. Don wrote many customer proposals and order entry training manuals and was regarded as an excellent classroom instructor for new hires and transfers to the contracts department.

On New Year’s Eve 1978, Don met his soulmate, Deborah Sue Bass. They will have celebrated 45 years of marriage in October, 2026. They purchased a home in Parkville, Maryland in 1983 and remained there until 2000 when they moved to Timonium (Springlake). With their 3 children, they relocated back to the original home Don grew up in when his parents moved the family to Maryland. This is where he passed peacefully, surrounded by his wife and immediate family.

Don played touch football into his late 30’s, slow pitch softball into his 50’s, and was very proud of himself for cycling up many a hill in the area into his late 60’s. He also spent over 30 years coaching youth sports, including girls’ softball and soccer, and boys’ football, basketball, and baseball. Don served as chairman of the Cockeysville baseball program from 2000 to 2005. After resigning, he continued to coach and umpire for another 12 years.

Don is survived by his beloved wife Debbie Bowden for 45 years; beloved children Jessie Robinson and her husband Craig, Ally Bowden and her husband Freddy Angus, and Andrew Bowden and his wife Casey Bowden; dear brother of Mary Gayle Horn, Gary Bowden, Mark Bowden, Richard Bowden, Brian Bowden, Drew Bowden, Maribeth Myers; cherished grandfather of Luke, Lilly, William, Isaac, Ella, and Noah; Also survived by many lifelong friends and many nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends at St. Joseph Church, 100 Church Lane, Cockeysville, Maryland 21030 on Tuesday, July 14, 2026 from 930 to 10:00 am at which time a Mass will be celebrated at 10am.

Interment Private.

Those who wish to remember Don in a special way, may make a donation in his memory to Johns Hopkins Neurology and Brain Sciences – Fund for Johns Hopkins Medicine; Attn: ALS research; 550 North Broadway, 7th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21205

and/or I AM ALS, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, PO Box 14135 Washington, DC 20044