Final Salute

The checkered flag waved over the unique spirit of Nelson E.”Ned” Stowe, as he completed his final lap on December 27, 2022, at his home in Browns Valley, CA, with his family.

Ned was born to Richard and Katheryne (Hahn) Stowe on February 18, 1933, in Dayton, Ohio and was raised there with his sister Nancy. He graduated from Co-Operative High School in 1951, a work study school in which he excelled in mechanics, the field he loved and made his living at for his entire working career.

Shortly after school, he enlisted in the US Navy. Assigned to the carrier USS Bairoko, he saw three combat tours to Korea. Afterwords, the ship was refitted and deployed to Eniwetok in the South Pacific in support of the first hydrogen bomb tests. He operated a landing launch and made many trips into the test area. He was a proud member of the National Association of Atomic Veterans and the American Legion.

Upon discharge he returned to Ohio and ran a gas station where he built his race cars. He was very successful in midget racing and drags. He pit crewed for Lee Petty and was a lifelong NASCAR fan.

As a reservist, he transferred to the Seabees where he repaired heavy equipment and found his calling. He worked for Morgan Equipment in San Francisco for 24 years, traveling all over the country and overseas repairing and delivering all manner of construction machinery. He was at the top of his field. Leaving Morgan, he ran an independent crane repair business until retiring.

In 1974, living in San Francisco, he met and married Marilyn Lund-Bacon. Marilyn had four children from a previous marriage. Marilyn and Ned traveled the country on road trips extensively and loved each other eternally.

They moved from San Francisco to Redwood City for many fun filled years and then to the serenity of the countryside in Browns Valley. He loved his property in the foothills. He maintained it meticulously and built friendships with locals and neighbors. To all he will be missed.

Ned is survived by a niece, two nephews, four step-children, seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Gods Speed Ned.

Published by Appeal Democrat from Jan. 10 to Jan. 14, 2023.