Obituary: Fred G. Gowen Jr.
Fred G. Gowen Jr.
SCARBOROUGH – Fred G. Gowen Jr., 87, entered into the presence of his Lord and Savior on July 10, 2026, at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough, surrounded by the family he cherished.
Born on July 20, 1938, Springvale, Fred enjoyed a childhood filled with stories that his family loved hearing again and again. He often reminisced about growing up around his father’s general store on Main Street, the family’s mischievous pet monkeys (all affectionately named “Chi Chi”) and learning to drive a Farmall tractor and an old Indian motorcycle long before he was old enough to drive a car.
While attending Gordon College, Fred met the love of his life, Mary Lou. They met in September and were married the following June in Port Deposit, Md., beginning a lifelong partnership rooted in faith, love, and unwavering devotion to one another.
Together they built a family that became Fred’s greatest joy and proudest accomplishment. Although he had a distinguished career in education and music, visitors to his home quickly discovered what mattered most to him. His walls were covered with photographs of his family – it looked like wallpaper. Nothing brought him greater happiness than showing off his “walls of fame”. One of his favorite days each year was welcoming family visiting from Illinois, grabbing Ken’s Place seafood for take-out, and watching everyone raid “Papa’s fridge” in the garage, always stocked with ice cream and soda for the summer.
Fred devoted his professional life to serving through education. He began as a teacher and coach at Kents Hill Preparatory School before teaching mathematics at Cape Elizabeth High School. He later served as Vice Principal and Principal at Massabesic High School, where he retired in 1991. Retirement never truly slowed Fred down. He continued serving his community by driving a school bus for the Scarborough School System, serving as Scarborough High School Interim Athletic Director, and helping customers at the Dunstan Ace Hardware store.
Blessed with a remarkable bass voice, Fred shared the Gospel for many years as a member of the quartet, The Revelaires, recording five studio albums and singing in churches throughout the region. Later, one of his greatest joys was singing alongside his family as The Gowens, producing three more records together.
Fred also had a lifelong passion for antique cars and bicycles. As an active member of The Wheelmen, he restored and collected historic bicycles and found great joy riding them with family members in local parades and demonstrations at the Owls Head Transportation Museum. Whether perched atop a towering high-wheel bicycle or sharing his love of cycling with others, Fred treasured the friendships and memories those events created.
Those who knew Fred also knew his sense of humor. He enjoyed cultivating the image of a curmudgeon, but it was a role no one believed for very long. Beneath the playful gruffness was a generous heart, a quick wit, and a kindness that drew people to him.
Even the nurses who cared for him quickly discovered the warmth and charm that his family had treasured for decades.
Fred was predeceased by his wife Mary Lou Gowen; parents, Fred and Glenna Gowen; and his sisters Deborah Gowen and Jean Walden.
Fred will be greatly missed by his daughters Tracy Tibbetts and her husband Lewis of Scarborough, Kimberly Henry and her husband Joseph of Eureka, Ill., and Deborah Reed and her husband Glen of Scarborough; his grandchildren, Kaelen Henry, Kelsey (Henry) Sandrock and her husband Zachariah, Joshua Reed and his fiancé Samirha Connell, Zachary Reed, Matthew Tibbetts and his wife Emily; his great-grandchildren, Bode and Boston Sandrock and Eli and Adam Tibbetts; as well as several loving nieces, nephews, and their families.
A private family celebration of Fred’s life was held at his home.
His family finds comfort knowing that the quiet example Fred set through his faith, love of family, generosity, and selfless service will continue to inspire all who knew and loved him.
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