Dwight Richard Bowden

Dwight passed away peacefully at home with family on April 20th, 2022. He was born at a home his grandfather Bill Crews had built in Hope, Arkansas, to James and Velma Bowden. His family moved to Dallas during the depression and, at the start of WWII, he worked his own large paper route, saving money that became the down payment for a Texarkana, Texas, home for his parents and three younger brothers. While attending Texas High School, he worked delivering 50 pound blocks of ice to homes for the "ice boxes," saving enough to buy a '32 Ford V8 before graduating. Dwight was attending Texarkana College in 1950 when the Korean War started. At 19, he and two friends signed up to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps. He served stateside at Camp Pendleton, driving his '32 Ford home on every leave opportunity to chase after a young woman friends had introduced.
Barbara lived across the State Line in Arkansas and had a fast reputation, owing to her driving skills and ability to outrun and outmaneuver any of the many boys trying to catch up to the gang of young women loaded into her dad's WWII era Willy's Jeep. At a young age, she learned to drive the country roads during frequent fishing and hunting trips. Jeeps were rare then, and hers was the envy of many in her high school. The local Cadillac dealer's son did manage to swap with her his own new convertible so he could drive the jeep in the Homecoming Parade. The yearbook noted that Barbara expected to become a driver in "Jimmy Lynch's Death Dodgers."
Just after his completing military service but before tying the knot, the now-engaged Dwight headed north to Alaska with the two school friends from the Marine Corps, Jim and Harlan. With Harlan's dad loaded into Dwight's '51 Mercury Coupe, they headed north. The trip taught some valuable lessons: first learned was "do not pass the snowplow in the Yukon during a snowstorm at night." They did arrive safely in Alaska, explored, and wintered in a homestead cabin. Dwight hauled ice again, this time from a lake for drinking water. Springtime came and they returned to Texarkana.
Dwight and Barbara married in 1954. They honeymooned in New Orleans and drove to Alaska afterwards, always taking the scenic routes. Soon his two friends followed north with their wives, and they all stayed many years raising families while remaining friends throughout their lives.
Dwight and Barbara's first winter was spent in a 26-foot travel trailer, both working next door at a towing and service station on the "outskirts" of Anchorage - the gravel intersection of Gamble and Fireweed. Dwight ran the tow service, garage, and fuel, and Barbara managed the paperwork. They appreciated the generosity given and opportunities shown them that first year. The first of their sons born in Territorial Alaska arrived in September 1955. Dwight started working with National Cash Register Corp. as the Southeastern Alaska Rep, a job that included extensive travel in Southeast Alaska by air and water craft. In 1956, the family with two sons were staying at the Baranof Hotel in Juneau, again finding life-long friends.
In 1958, Dwight was back in Anchorage working at Communications Engineering & Trans-Alaska Telephone in the accounting department. In 1962, he started work for Gordon Hartlieb's First Federal Savings & Loan, becoming a loan appraiser, Branch Manager, and a Vice President of the Northern Lights and Arctic Blvd. Branch. After the 1964 Alaska Earthquake, Dwight transferred his experience to Action Realty, working to repair and clean up property, manage loan defaults, and market properties. During this time he partnered with his brother Bruce to construct a 17-unit apartment building near Fireweed and C Street, the first of many projects developing housing in Anchorage.
Knowledge learned at Action Realty convinced Dwight to open Bowden Co. Realtors in 1971. An early commercial from that time showed the home buyer shaking Dwight's hand while a voiceover plays "Thanks, Dwight." Their office grew and was successful. The October 1987 Black Monday global stock market crash impacted the Alaska Real Estate market and wiped out Dwight and Barbara's income property portfolio. A loan approval due two days later for a new high rise in midtown had collapsed.
Dwight continued to operate his own office until 2000, always showing up for work, family, and friends, and always putting Barbara first. Dwight and Barbara later worked as agents at Jack White Real Estate until retiring in April 2019. Until his last working days he continued to manage distressed loans and was servicing properties under contract for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Dwight served in the Real Estate Anchorage community with dedication, proud to hold many titles and duties including:
Director, Home Builders Association of Alaska, 1969-1972
President, Anchorage Board of Directors, 1971
Vice President, Alaska Association of Realtors, 1973
Director, Anchorage Board of Realtors, 1972-1973
Director, Alaska Association of Realtors, 1973-1975
Director, Anchorage MLS, 1971-1973, 1978-1979
President, Alaska Association of Realtors, 1974
Director, Home Federal Savings & Loan, 1975
Chairman of the Board, Home Federal Savings & Loan, 1976-77
Director, Home Builders Association of Anchorage, 1978
At the time Dwight was getting started in Alaska business, Barbara was a bookkeeper for the Officers Club on Elmendorf AFB, later becoming comptroller for pioneer aviator Mudhole Smith's Cordova Airlines until its merger with Alaska Airlines. Barbara spent many more years working at Alyeska Ski Resort, enjoying the 80-mile workday roadtrip commute, before joining Dwight in 1973 in the Real Estate office.
On weekends, when not showing open houses, Dwight and Barbara's passion for adventure found them together and active with like-minded folks, be it the bowling league, the Arctic Water Ski Club, or their beloved Alaska Sports Car Club. They always loved the competition, whether they were winning or not, and found family with the fellowship on and off the track. The Alaska Sports Car Club held racing events on the streets of downtown Anchorage, which would become an Arctic Monte Carlo racetrack for the annual Fur Rendezvous Grand Prix. Dwight first raced in downtown Anchorage in 1964 and continued to compete into the 2000s. Races were also organized on frozen lakes during Alaskan winters, and the club hosted many celebrity drivers, including winners of the 24 Hours of LeMans and the Indianapolis 500. Summers found some large parking lots in the city reserved on Sundays for enthusiasts to compete against each other in timed events, testing driver skill and vehicle capabilities on closed courses. It also was a time for friendships to be built. Dwight attended religiously, participating in any skilled driving event available into his 80s, arriving early and staying late. When not able to compete he assisted with any tasks needed, always showing up to support. Memorably, after receiving training and certification from the Bondurant Driving School in 1978, he was awarded a national competition drivers license and competed stateside in the Sports Car Club of America's National Road Racing Circuit, driving a 1967 Corvette. Dwight consistently finished his races well ahead of his starting position.
Dwight, Barbara, and oldest son Terry competed alongside and against each other for many years. Sons Scott and Gary and many friends helped off the racetrack in the pits and garage.
Dwight, Barbara, and the children were always privileged in life to travel outside Alaska, making annual summer trips to visit family in Texas and Arkansas, journeys made possible in large part due to Barbara's position with the airlines she respected and appreciated. Later in life they continued to travel together and explore Alaska, the U.S., and abroad, always with the same spirit of adventure that they brought to Alaska.
Dwight was tragically preceded in death by his son Scott, who passed in 1983, losing his eldest son Terry in 1991.
Dwight is survived by his wife Barbara and son Gary, his brothers James Bowden and Bill Bowden, and many wonderful nieces and amazing nephews.
In lieu of flowers, thoughtful contributions could be sent to causes helping veterans and families such as
https://www.habitat.org Habitat for Humanity Or the Army Wounded Warrior Program
Great appreciation is extended to the Alaska Home Based Primary Care Unit of the Veterans Administration, Providence Home Care and Hospice Group, Yvonne and Darlene and all the staff at McKinley Home Care Services. A special debt of gratitude to Cheryl and husband Bill for the assistance provided during the very difficult for all 2020.
Blessings to all.
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