George Bowen
Oct. 13, 1954-Aug. 19, 2024
Pleasanton, California
George’s biggest passions were his faith, his family, music and serving others. He was a humble, down-to-earth guy who preferred shorts and flip-flops and always took time to say hello or stop and help a stranger. A 39-year resident of Pleasanton, George had a heart for wounded military veterans, even visiting many at Bethesda Naval Hospital. In 2013, inspired by those visits, he organized a benefit concert featuring Kenny Loggins at Wente Vineyards to support local wounded warriors. He was a committed servant of Christ and an active member of Valley Community Church for many years, where he played guitar, bass and sang in the worship band, was an elder, and led small groups. In 2010, he donated his kidney to a friend in need. His passion for his community led him to run for City Council in 2014. Always active, George enjoyed setting challenging athletic goals: He competed in several triathlons, ran a marathon, cycled a century, and completed the Alcatraz swim 10 times. He could often be found in the pool at Bay Club or birdwatching and hiking on the Pleasanton Ridge.
George grew up as the second of three sons in La Jolla, California, where he developed a lifelong bond with the ocean and became a skilled scuba diver and surfer. Along with his older brother Paul, he performed and recorded multiple albums with the successful folk rock duo Bowen & Richards in the 1970s. Their music was played on the radio and received critical acclaim in Billboard Magazine. The release of Paul Simon’s song “The Boxer” in 1969 inspired George to master playing the acoustic guitar, in addition to being an accomplished bass player. In 1978, he married the love of his life, Jane Otto, with whom he had three children: Kate, George and Andrew. He spent his career working his way up the ranks of the insurance company California Casualty, from sales associate to senior vice president of marketing. In 2008, he co-founded Impact Teen Drivers, a national organization dedicated to keeping young people safe behind the wheel. After retiring in 2011, he worked as an insurance marketing consultant. His many years in music eventually led him to build acoustic guitars, a craft he developed to a high level of excellence. Earlier this year, an exquisite Bowen guitar with a 600-year-old spruce top from Munich was featured in a memorable Doyle Dykes concert in Pleasanton. George’s son Andrew has taken over Bowen Guitars and will carry on the legacy.
After a two-year battle with ALS, George passed away in his home on August 19. He is survived by his loving wife Jane, their three children and their eight grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lowell R. and Marie Bowen Lingenfelter. George was a caring and devoted husband, father, friend and colleague. Known for his humor and generosity, he loved to learn and meet new people everywhere he went. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
A memorial service will be held on Monday, October 28 at 1:30 pm at Valley Community Church, 4455 Del Valle Parkway, Pleasanton, CA.
Donations in George’s memory may be made to: — ALS Network, PO Box 7082, Woodland Hills, CA. 91365 (Note: George Bowen) — Doyle Dykes, PO Box 5358, Cleveland, TN 37312 — LifeBranch Institute, PO Box 8097, Laguna Hills, CA 92654 — ALS CURE Project, alscure.org.
