Charles will be remembered as a scholarly gentleman, a loving husband, a philanthropist and a patron of the arts.

He particularly enjoyed the cultural arts, especially the orchestra and opera. Charles was skilled in photography and was a student of geography and history. He enjoyed sailing and deep-sea fishing and traveling with his wife, Elizabeth, throughout Europe, Asia and Africa.

Charles was graduated from Germantown High School (Class of 1932) and Lehigh University (Class of 1936 with a degree in Chemistry Engineering). He achieved the rank of Lt. Col. in the US Army and served in WWII, and he retired from the Armed Services in 1946.

In industry Charles filed two patents while working at Hercules Powder Company and was a Vice President in product development at Honeywell. He retired in the 1970s after managing Honeywell's European Sales Division. For a number of years Charles was a residential real-estate developer in the Philadelphia area. He called Philadelphia, the New Jersey shore and Palm Beach, Florida his home.

Charles and Elizabeth Bowden were recognized as Individual Philanthropists of the Year in 1995 by the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the National Society of Fundraising Executives. Charles remained very active in philanthropic and social organizations and attended charitable events through the summer of 2007.

In Palm Beach, Charles was a member of many clubs including The Everglades Club, Mar-A-Lago and was recognized as Officier of the Châine de Rotisseures.

In the Philadelphia area, he was a member of the Union League of Philadelphia, Merion Cricket Club, and he served on the Board of Directors of the Academy of Vocal Arts and the Philadelphia Chapter of the Patrons of the Vatican Museum.

In New Jersey, Charles was a member of Little Egg Harbor Yacht Club and the Atlantic City Country Club.

Charles was the beloved husband of Elizabeth Morris Bowden and the late Sarah Griffith Bowden. He is also survived by his children Deborah Bowden Laury, Charles W. Bowden, III., Cecilly Bowden Sullivan and step-daughter Suzanne Schoch Rehl; his grandchildren Charles W. Bowden, IV., Elizabeth Bowden Roberts, Leo M. Sullivan, III., and Avery Elizabeth Rehl; as well as great-grandchildren Russell Roberts, Helen Roberts, Kendall Bowden, and Charles W. (Quentin) Bowden, V.

Relatives and friends are invited to a memorial service to be held at 11 am on Monday September 24, 2007 at St John Vianney Church, Youngsford and Conshohocken State Rds. in Gladwyne, PA. Burial at Calvary Cemetery at Old Gulph & Matsonford Rds. in West Conshohocken, PA.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his honor may be sent to the Academy of Vocal Arts 1920 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103 or the Opera Company of Philadelphia 1420 Locust Street, Suite 210 Philadelphia, PA 19102.