A Celebration of Buzz Bowden’s Life.

Buzz and Bess Bowden on theor 49th Wedding Anniversary. 2 October 2007.

Bess and Buzz 49 years earlier on their wedding day.

ARTHUR HARRY BOWDEN
1921 – 2007.
Buzz Bowden aka Arthur Harry Bowden was born on the 28 October 1921 in East London. Every thing he accomplished in his life was for God’s glory – he NEVER bragged about anything he achieved – he gave God all the Glory, for the things God did in his life, to God. He would only say that to serve God was such a privilege.
He was educated at Selbourne College in East London where he excelled in sport especially swimming. The motto of the school is the Latin Palma virtuti (virtue has its reward). Dad truly lived this motto and in his last days showed us all what this means….he has reaped the reward of eternal life through living this motto out to the fullest; “Reward is to the brave”.

Buzz had achieved a variety of accolades:
A National Technical Diploma
A National Technical Teacher’s Diploma
A National Technical Engineering Diploma
A Bachelor of Arts Degree
A Bachelor of Education (with Honours)
A Master of Education

Two unpublished (due to death of two daughters) Doctorate’s:
Education and of Philosophy
A member of the Human Science Research Council

An Amateur Ham Radio Licensed operator
A Private Pilot’s license
Member of the Royal Life Saving Society (Award of Merit)

Officer in the Royal Navy during the 2nd World War
Medals for fighting in the war:
These are for bravery and as dad sometimes said “staying alive”!
The GRJ Star of Merit (King George Rex Jr.)
The GRJ Star of Africa
The GRJ Star
The GRJ Atlantic Star
The GRJ Africa Star
The Imperial King George VI Medal of Honour
The Africa Service Medal
Medal of Service on the HMS

2 Gold Medals for Life Saving (Award of Merit)
Gold medal for swimming the English Channel
Bronze Medal for swimming in the Africa Games
Won the International Service Gala in Alexandria
Egypt (200 m freestyle 1min:22 sec) this really helped
when his ship sank off the coast of Tubruk!

He taught at the Johannesburg Technical College;
John Orr Technical High School;
Head of Blairgowrie High School;
Rustenburg Technical High School.

Lay Witness Missionary; Gideons; Started and actively involved in many churches in Jhb.

Managing Director of three companies:
Impala Clay
North Riding Electrical
A-Z Agencies.

Greatest Accolade: Child of God; Husband; Father; Grand father and Friend.

He died of Pneumonia at the age of 86 on the 21 December 2007.