Frederick P. Bowden III, 92

LACONIA — Frederick "Fred" Prescott Bowden III, 92, of Ledges Drive, passed away peacefully at his home on Oct. 9, 2025.

Fred was born on Dec. 28, 1932, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the son of Frederick Bowden Jr. and Hope (Bradford) Bowden.

After graduating from Governor Dummer Academy, Fred enrolled in Hobart College. He left Hobart after one year to serve in the United States Army where he was in the military police during the Korean War. When he was discharged, Fred returned to Hobart College and earned a bachelor of arts in English. While attending Hobart, Fred met his wife, Susan Krueger, and they married prior to their senior year. Upon graduation, they moved to Barrington, Rhode Island, where they raised their family. Fred continued his education at Harvard Business School where he honed finance and management skills that were integral to the running of his narrow fabric mill in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Arbeka Webbing Company.

In his spare time while in Rhode Island, Fred enjoyed many hobbies and sports. He particularly liked the motor sport of ice-racing. He raced a well battered light-green VW Karmann Ghia (#39) and enjoyed weekend trips to Maine and New Hampshire for races. Frostbiting in his sunfish on the Barrington River was another favorite pastime. Fred also enjoyed scuba diving, especially in the Newport area.

Fred sold the mill and retired in 1990. Fred and Sue moved to North Sandwich, to begin the second phase of their lives. Fred’s love for downhill skiing flourished. His desire for precision, accuracy and the pursuit of the perfect turn was a common thread to the hobbies and sports he adored, and this made skiing his favorite of all challenges. He went on to become a ski instructor and donated much of his time to teaching those in the adaptive ski programs at Waterville Valley and Bretton Woods.

Fred and Sue later became active members of the Over the Hill Hikers club where they led many hikes and enjoyed overseas trips and social activities with the group. Fred conquered most of the 4,000 footers.

Another love of Fred’s was trap shooting and sporting clays. He treasured the companionship and storytelling he shared with the Bear Camp Valley Sportsmen Club members as well as the competition.

Throughout his life, Fred traveled a great deal. Often discussed was a trip he took with his family to the Hawaiian Islands in 1976, where snorkeling, surfing, and enjoying the beauty of the tropical landscape were well remembered. Another notable vacation was a three-generation trip to China in the early 1980s with his mother Hope and his sons, before China had opened to regular tourism and a Chinese government guide was required to tour the country. They experienced the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and the Terracotta Army in Xi’an along with numerous historical sites. With Sue he enjoyed many hiking/walking trips overseas and throughout North America. His children attributed their willingness to try many different dishes to Fred’s love for unusual food, especially anything that came from the ocean.

Fred is survived by his wife and best friend of 67 years, Sue (Krueger) Bowden; sons Scott Bowden and his wife Priya, David Bowden and his wife Babette, and John Bowden and his wife Jill; nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, Fred was predeceased by his brothers, George, Dick and Paul Bowden.

At this time, there will be no services.

Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services/603Cremations.com, 164 Pleasant St., is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, visit wilkinsonbeane.com.