Walter F. Bowen

Walter Bowen, 97, beloved husband of his deceased wife Catherine, passed away on August 5th. Mr. Bowen retired from the Massachusetts State Police as a highly decorated Lieutenant Colonel in 1960 after a twenty two year career during which he worked in every county in the Commonwealth and supervised or trained more than eighty percent of the troopers on the force. From there he went to work for the Gillette Company, where he implemented nationwide and global security systems for the growing company as the leader of Gillette's new Security Division until his retirement in 1980.





Mr. Bowen was also a decorated veteran of the United States Army. Landing at Normandy with the First Division, 226th Combat Engineers Battalion, he engaged in combat operations as a Technical Sergeant for 186 straight days, eventually fighting his way to Paris and its liberation. After receiving orders home in 1945, Mr. Bowen was asked by the War Department to voluntarily remain in Europe to investigate what would become known as the Nuremberg Trial. Despite having been away from his family for more than three years, Mr. Bowen agreed to stay, and was stationed in Brussels for another year while he tracked down Nazi war criminals for prosecution. He returned home and left the Army in 1947 as a Master Sergeant.





Mr. Bowen is a 1932 graduate of Medford High School, where he excelled as a student and athlete, eventually gaining entry into the Medford High Hall of Fame for his achievements in football. Mr. Bowen leaves behind numerous adoring family members and friends including: Annemarie Valee and her husband Larry, William Bowen and his wife Joanne, all of NY, Tracy (Carroll) Berry of Stoneham, Holly (Carroll) Cachimuel and her husband Carlos of Watertown and the late William Bowen and Andrew J. "Buzzy" Carroll Jr. Also survived by many loving great nieces and great nephews.





Funeral from the Barile Family Funeral Home, 482 Main St. (RT 28) STONEHAM Tuesday at 9am followed by a Funeral Mass celebrating Walter's Eternal Life in St. Patrick Church, 71 Central St. Stoneham at 10am. Family and friends are cordially invited to gather and share remembrances with the Family on Monday from 4-8pm in the Funeral Home. Parking attendants will be available. Interment with Military Honors will take place at Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford.