May 2021
Thoughts of one-room schoolhouses conjure up images of remote Western towns where covered wagons and horses were the main modes of transportation. But the tiny buildings where students of all ages gathered to learn were still in existence much later, even into the early 1940s. One of those one-room schoolhouses was in Westbrook, Maine, where Bill Gowen, F93847, was a pupil for the first six years of his education.
Bill Gowen served as FMCA national treasurer in the 1990s.
As it turned out, the education he received sharing that one room with other students proved to be a great foundation. Bill took that humble start and blended it with a never-tiring work ethic. After graduating from Westbrook High School in 1949, he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Southern Maine and took a job with Casco Bank.
But Bill was never one to rest. He left the bank and founded his own accounting firm, The Gowen Professional Association, in 1966, and passed his certified public accountant exam in 1971. A year later, he started a second business, Shekinah Company, which owned and operated commercial and residential real estate.
He never retired from the real estate business, continuing to work up until February 13, 2021, when he passed away. William Woodman Gowen was 89.
Bill took plenty of time to relax, though, endlessly traveling the country in his motorhome, while helping others who did the same. He used his accounting skills to serve as FMCA’s national treasurer from 1995 to 1998 and as national vice president, Northeast Area, from 1999 to 2003.
Perhaps the only vehicle Bill loved more than his motorhome was his Porsche 914, a two-seat roadster with a Targa top that could be removed on warm days. He shared his love for the car with the Downeast Porsche Club and would drive it in parades with the Kora Shriners, of which he was a proud member. Bill was a 32nd degree Mason. He also was a member of the Rotary Club, active with various Republican party committees, and a longtime member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Cathedral.
He is survived by his sons, David and Daniel; six grandchildren; and several nieces and a nephew. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, services were to be held at a later date. Memorial donations can be made to Kora Shrine Temple Foundation, www.korashriners.org