Daniel Leonard Bowdler

SOUTHBURY - Daniel L. Bowdler, 63, passed away peacefully in Southbury, CT with his family by his side on January 17, 2023 of Multiple System Atrophy (MSA). Dan was born in 1959 in Ohio, to Donald Bowdler and Dorothy (Nelson) Bowdler Budd. He graduated from Edgewood High School. He earned a B.S. in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering while in the NROTC program at The Ohio State University, then was commissioned into the U.S. Navy.

Dan loyally served "God, Family, Country" in that order.  He met his future wife at a Junior High School church camp.  Dan married Roberta "Bert" Taylor and they now have two children and five grandchildren. Dan was a man of deep Christian faith serving various churches as a Deacon, Elder, Worship Team member, and Life Group member. His love of singing in choirs, worship, and Norwich Rose City Chorus (an a cappella Barbershop group) kept him busy. He enjoyed singing every day. Dan also enjoyed gardening, a farmer at heart, having been raised on a big family farm. 

After leaving the Navy, Dan worked at the Sonalysts World Headquarters in Waterford, CT retiring in 2019 as Senior Vice President. In September 2022, he was inducted into the Edgewood High School Hall of Fame. Dan accumulated 45 years of distinguished service to his country with his military service, reserve service, teaching, training, and defense contracting experiences. Those experiences also took him to every continent (except Antarctica), and to every ocean.  

Even though he holds many military honors and medals, he most enjoyed his children and grandchildren. He would point to his children and grandchildren as his biggest accomplishments. This often overlapped with his service and contributions to Boy Scouts, Lions Club, and other community organizations. One of his favorite sayings was "Any day you get to see a grandchild is a great day." 

Dan is survived by his wife of 42 years, Roberta (Taylor) Bowdler, Southbury, CT; his son Daniel (Megan Giesen) Bowdler and their two sons Keegan and Blake of Cromwell, CT; daughter Christina (Jason) Biroscak and their daughter Emily and two sons Joshua and Luke of Southbury, CT; Siblings: Don Bowdler, Debbie (Pierre) Campbell, Doug (Nancy) Bowdler, Ron (Tonya) Budd, and Jim Budd, Carol (Jim) Bryan, Susan Budd and many cousins, aunts, uncles, and many more extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Denise Carlson, and brother John. He truly loved his wife's family too. 

Celebration of Life will be held at 10:30 AM at Valley Bible Church at 220 Turkey Hill Road in Haddam, CT on Friday January 27th to be followed by a lunch, and a procession to the CT State Veterans' Cemetery in Middletown, CT for a military burial service.

The family requests no flowers, instead they want no one to ever have to deal with MSA. In the last few years & recent weeks even, big strides are being made on diagnosing MSA, on helping prevent MSA, and treating MSA.  Instead of flowers, Dan wanted charitable contributions made in his name to the Brain Support Network, PO Box 7264. Menlo Park CA 94026, www.brainsupportnetwork.com OR to The MSA Coalition at www.multiplesytematrophy.org in his name. Both organizations are dear to the family for their support dealing with this rare disease (NORD).

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