Taylor Gene Bowen

Age 84, a resident of Albuquerque since 1996 died Friday, February 7, 2014. He is survived by his beloved wife of 18 years; Joan; and other relatives and friends. Taylor was born in 1929 in Bloomington, IN and was the eldest of two brothers. Summers were spent working in his father's coal mine and later driving tractor-trailer rigs in the family's new trucking company that hauled finished limestone in the eastern states. His good grades in school won scholarships in college and induction into honorary organizations at Indiana University and Colorado University. Taylor's Army service was in Germany as a counter-intelligence agent to direct the conduct of background checks of refugees with technical skills who had applied for immigration to America. Working with State Department officials under the Refugee Relief Act of 1953, he was given the temporary rank of Lt. Colonel. Afterwards he continued his chemistry education by earning a post-graduate degree at Pennsylvania State University. In later years he studied patents and civil law at night school. He did basic research in the plastics industry and provided technical support in the field of gas analysis. This lead to air pollution monitoring for the State of California with their system of on-site instruments. Mr. Bowen and a friend were invited to England by another Colorado University graduate and they toured the heart of Europe. It was there that he met Joan, a delightful lady and an excellent hostess. Joan who had been widowed four years earlier married Taylor in London. After a honeymoon in Switzerland, Taylor and Joan settled into a remodeled home in Albuquerque. With no children in the family, and relatives provided for, they elected to will their house, property and all the contents therein to the ACF to fund two endowments after their deaths. Based on Taylor's interest in firearms and his knowledge of the field, he wrote a book about the life of James Reid, a gunmaker of pocket pistols who lived near Catskill, New York in the 1870's. Two magazine articles were also published and the entire collection plus sales stock was sold in the mid-1990's. Taylor was a loving husband and friend and will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Friends may visit French ~ Lomas Thursday, February 13, 2014 from 9:00 a.m. until service at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Fairview Memorial Park Cemetery. Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made in Taylor's name to the charity of your choice.