Kenneth Duane "Ken" Mowbray

Ken passed away at MedStar Washington Hospital Center on August 19, 2025 at age 94 of natural causes surrounded by his loved ones. Born in Minot, North Dakota in 1931 to Kermit and Anna Mae Mowbray, Ken grew up in Elmhurst, Illinois (with surviving sister Jean), where, as a kindergartener, he played hooky for an entire school year. Yes, he was the real-life Little Rascal!

Ken was a resident of St. Mary's and Calvert Counties for the past 38 years. Up until his passing, Ken was an active volunteer at Calvert Marine Museum (where he guided at the Skates and Rays exhibit) and the Southern Community Center in Lusby, Maryland where he led Bone Builders Exercise Classes

In 1955, after 5 honorable years in the US Navy, Ken married the love of his life, Ellie, a marriage of 62 years until her passing. Ken and Ellie raised a family in Des Plaines, Illinois with surviving sons Dr. Tom Mowbray (of Ohio w ith spouse Kate) and John Mowbray of Florida with spouse Janice who raised Ken's grown grandchildren: Morgan, Spencer, and Annie

In Illinois: Ken, Ellie, Tom, and John were all avid sailboat racers. After winning the National Championship in the Rebel Class four times, Ken, Ellie, and family friend Keith Vosburgh raced J25 sailboats. Ken and Ellie's dream was to sail the Chesapeake Bay. So, they acquired a cruising sailboat, The Swan, and enjoyed many years cruising with the Southern Maryland Sailing Association and the Solomons Island Yacht Club. Eventually, Ken wrote and published the book "Chance the Tide," Sheridan House, 2002, about sailboat cruising to the Bahamas.

Ken began his career as a mechanical engineer working in boilers and printing machine design until his mid-career change to facilities engineering as a civilian working for the US Navy. Starting at Glenview Naval Air Station, Ken transferred to Patuxent Naval Air Station (Pax) when he and Ellie moved to St Mary's County.

Towards the end of his career, Ken was promoted to Director of Environmental Engineering at Pax. Previously, the base had numerous EPA superfund sites which were considered problematic. Ken directed his staff: "You are NOT environmental cops," work together with your Navy counterparts to solve problems. Ken's staff determined that 88% of those superfund sites were not migrating and did not require remediation. So the entire team focused on the remaining sites. As a result, Ken's department won a global DoD Environmental Award.

Funeral services for Ken Mowbray will be conducted at 10:30AM Saturday September 2025 at Trinity Episcopal Church, 47444 Trinity Church Road, Saint Mary's City, Maryland 20686.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Calvert Marine Museum.