JOHN D. BOWKER

SUN CITY CENTER, Fla. — John D. Bowker, 95, of Sun City Center FL, formerly of Princeton Junction, N.J., and Middlebury, Vt., passed away peacefully Feb. 15, 2026. He was born in Middlebury, Vt., Nov. 18, 1930, at Porter Hospital.

He is preceded in death by his parents, John and Doris Bowker. He is survived by his loving wife of 72 years, Linda; their children, Wendy Lodge, John S Bowker (Joanne) and Denise Bowker; six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

John was the retired director of frequency management at the RCA Corporation, and was recognized in the 2024 Who’s Who top executives for dedication, achievements and leadership in television broadcasting. With over 75 years of experience in the broadcasting industry, John made significant contributions to the development of color television. John’s journey in broadcasting started at age 12 listening to radio stations across the country while recovering from an illness. This passion led him to build a radio station in Middlebury, Vt., while completing his undergraduate work at Middlebury College. After being hired by RCA in 1953, he was part of the pioneering team tasked with developing color television.

John’s mantra in his extra-curricular activities was to only participate in organizations where you think you can make a positive difference. Throughout his career, his free time was spent building radio stations at other institutions, such as Tennessee State University and West Windsor-Plainsboro High School (South); he was active in the Trenton New Jersey Urban League and Recording for the Blind. He also had a Big Band radio show on the local community college station in New Jersey.

Following his retirement March 31, 1986, John and Linda traveled to all 48 contiguous states in their beloved “Roo” motorhome. After settling in Sun City Center, Fla., John and Linda continued to make a difference in their community, becoming active members in the volunteer emergency squad where they worked as dispatchers for over 20 years. John was very active in the SCC History Society, and authored and co-authored two books on the history of Sun City Center. In recognition of all the volunteer hours he gave to the community, The Sun City Center Community Association named Jan. 22, 2012 “John Bowker Day” with a special reception.

The one constant in John’s life starting at age 16, was the presence of Linda. They met at his birthday party, dated through high school and college and were married Aug. 17, 1953, in the Congregational Church in Middlebury. For nearly 80 years, they were never more than an arm’s length from each other, greeting each other with a kiss every day they were married. ◊