John C. Bowen Sr., 87, engineer

John Carpenter Bowen Sr., 87, of Huntingdon Valley, a retired chemical engineer, died Tuesday, April 14, in the medical center at Rydal Park, a senior community, of complications from an earlier surgery.

Born in Bristol, he was the son of Charles and Beatrice Bowen. The family moved to Moorestown, where Mr. Bowen became active in the Boy Scouts.

He achieved the rank of Life Scout and was elected to the Order of the Arrow Brotherhood by members of his troop, his family said in a statement.

Mr. Bowen graduated from Valley Forge Military Academy and in 1950 earned a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.

At both Valley Forge and Penn, he ran track and played the double-bell euphonium, a brass wind instrument, in the marching band.

After several years working in sales, Mr. Bowen founded Pressure Products Industries Inc. in Warminster, which later was purchased by Flowserve Corp., a global maker of pumps and valves.

Mr. Bowen then joined Ametek Inc., a firm that manufactures electronic instruments and devices.

He led the company's solar-power division while also staying active in the engineering industry by serving as chairman of the research committee on pressure technology for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

In retirement during the 1990s, Mr. Bowen became a professor at Penn, where he taught in the mechanical engineering and applied mechanics department.

"In [his] class, students had the opportunity to utilize fundamental course knowledge for the solution of advanced engineering problems," his family said.

In addition to enjoying family activities, Mr. Bowen was an avid bridge player and golfer at Huntingdon Valley Country Club, where he was on the golf committee.

"He was a wonderful father," said daughter Susan McKay. "We are so lucky to have had him as a mentor, and, as an adult, our friend."

He was married to Nancy Ahl Bowen, who died in 1998. Besides his daughter, he is survived by another daughter, Holly Paczewski; son John Jr.; eight grandchildren; and a brother.

A 10 a.m. visitation will be followed by a memorial service at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 21, at Abington Presbyterian Church, 1082 Old York Rd., Abington. Burial is private.

Contributions may be made to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, Box 15120, Chicago, Ill. 60693, or via https://donatenow.heart.org.