Philip Earl Bowden

Philip (Phil) Earl Bowden, age 84, of Savannah, GA, peacefully passed away at home in the early hours of June 2, 2025, with loved ones by his side.

Phil was born in Orrington, ME, the 2nd of 6 sons of the late Donald F. Bowden and the late Thelma Perkins Bowden.

He graduated from the University of Maine, Orono, where he received a B.S. with Distinction in Chemical Engineering and a M.S. in Pulp and Paper Technology as well as a certificate in Pulp and Paper Management.

Phil worked for Westvaco in Covington, VA, where he met and, after a whirlwind courtship, married Nancy Gilkeson in 1965. They relocated to Franklin, VA in 1973 where he worked for Union Camp (IP) until 1997 when they relocated to Savannah where he worked for Union Camp Corporate Engineering/IP until his retirement in 1999. He was known as a great boss who valued the input of all. He was a patent recipient as well as part of the team at Union Camp, Franklin, which was the first to implement the more environmentally-friendly commercial high-consistency ozone bleaching process in 1992.

He worked hard, but remembered to play, too. While he loved watching football, baseball and tennis, he loved playing tennis, working around the house and yard and travelling, especially loving the beach. He built grandfather and mantel clocks and a Bradley GT car. He also volunteered his time over the years, and after retirement volunteered with Generation One, Savannah Med Bank, Habitat for Humanity and, along with Nancy, founded the local Essential Tremor Support Group.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by brothers Richard of Eddington, ME, Paul of Niantic, CT , Barry of Brewer, ME, and Brian of Orrington, ME.

Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Nancy Bowden; daughters Teri (Aaron) Zurfluh of Sedley, VA, and Cindi Bowden of Rincon, GA; grandchildren Maura Zurfluh of Norfolk, VA, and Miller Zurfluh of Sedley, VA; youngest brother Keith (Heather) of Orrington Maine; sisters-in-law Charlene Bowden of Eddington, ME, Pat Fialkosky of Groton, CT, Dinah Bowden of Brewer, ME, Darlene Bowden of Orrington, ME as well as several nieces and nephews.

Phil loved God, Family, and America. He was devoted to his family and loved being a “Girl Dad” before it was cool. He was a brilliant man and a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, friend and human.

A Celebration of Life will be held on June 21, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. at Baker McCullough Funeral Home, Hodgson Memorial Chapel (7415 Hodgson Memorial Drive, Savannah, GA 31406).

Visitation will be held on Friday evening, June 20, 2025 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the International Essential Tremor Foundation or the Bowden Family Scholarship Fund through the University of Maine, Orono, helping those pursuing careers in the paper industry.

For the IETF Donation:

https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E207556&id=32

For the UMO Bowden Family Scholarship Fund:

https://umaineppf.org/giving/#donate

Please select “Contribute to an Endowed Scholarship” and Type “Bowden Family” in the box that appears.

The family would also like to thank the many caregivers from Coastal Care Partners and Compassus Hospice for giving kind and loving care to “Mr. Phil”.