John J. McGowen, Jr., 84 of New Bedford died Sunday, October 21, at Tobey Hospital in after a brief illness. He was the husband of the late Nettie (West) McGowen. They had been married 60 years.

Born in New Bedford, the son of the late Arlene (Walsh) & John J. McGowen, Sr., he was a lifelong resident of the city. Mr. McGowen was foreman for D.N. Kelley & Son, Inc. shipyard in Fairhaven.

Mr. McGowen was a World War II veteran and served in the U.S. Army as a military police officer. He was a member of the Improved Order of Red Men in Wareham and enjoyed sports.

He is survived by four sons, Michael McGowen and Daniel McGowen both of New Bedford, Christopher McGowen of West Wareham and James McGowen of Derry, NH; a daughter, Nancy Meehan of Kokomo, IN; 12 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his son, the late Mark McGowen and his siblings, the late Lillian McArthur and the late Thomas, Donald, and Robert McGowen.

A graveside service will be held on Friday, Oct. 26 at the Mass. National Cemetery, Bourne at 10:15 a.m. Visiting hours will be Thursday at the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 2599 Cranberry Highway, Wareham from 4 to 7 p.m.

Donations in his memory may be made to the D.A.V., ATTN: Gift Processing, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301. For directions and online guestbook, visit: www.ccgfuneralhome.com.