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  • About
    • Alumni Awards
      • Awards Nomination
      • Alumnus of the Year
      • Honorary Life Member
      • Distinguished Life Member
      • Young Alumnus/a of the Year
      • District Director of the Year
      • Club President of the Year
      • The Carroll N. LeTellier Award
      • Citadel Club of the Year
      • Small Club of the Year
      • Arland D. Williams Award
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      • Director Policy and Handbook
      • Meeting Minutes
      • Past Presidents
      • Strategic Plan 2026
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      • 2025 Candidates
    • Frequently Asked Question
    • Holliday Alumni Center
      • Alumni Courtyard Bricks
      • Photo Gallery
      • Courvoisie Banquet Hall
      • Grand Foyer
      • LeTellier Alumni Courtyard
      • McKissick Library
      • Renken Dining Room
      • Scarborough Media Room
      • Tilghman Courtyard
      • Rental Information
    • Join CAA
    • Life Member Card and Decal Request
    • Life Membership Payment
    • Merchandise
      • Licensed Vendors
    • Mission and Bylaws
    • Staff
    • Sword Legacy Program
      • Legacy Swords
    • Alumni Travel
  • The Ring
    • Band of Gold Program
      • Band of Gold and Your Will
    • Class Ring Resize and Remake
    • Class Ring Policies
    • Order a Class Ring
    • Order Class Jewelry
    • Ring and Jewelry Prices
  • Network
    • 2025 Alumni Directory Project
    • Alumni Directory
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    • The Citadel Muster
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    • 2025 Gold Corps Reunion Weekend
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John W. Bowditch, ’67

John Watts Bowditch died from a massive coronary after a successful bilateral lung transplant in Durham, N.C., on Feb. 29, 2012. John was born on Oct. 12, 1944, the son of Willits Henry and Marian Hornsby Bowditch. Awarded a football scholarship, he attended the Citadel in Charleston, S.C., “the holy city,” and claimed the class of 1967, while graduating in 1968. John spent most of his life in the automobile business. He was the owner of McGinness Chevrolet Buick, and since retirement was associated with Hutchens Chevrolet. John attended Abingdon Episcopal Church, where he served in numerous capacities; as senior warden three times, church trustee and sang with the choir one Christmas until they started hiding the practices from him. He taught the largest teen Sunday school class on record because he recruited two friends to assist them and forced all their respective children to attend. He was known for making ham biscuits for church functions. John’s greatest gift was one of friendship often accompanied by his wonderful homemade bread. John was involved at many levels in Boys Scouts of America, from serving as the Troop Leader of his son’s troop to receiving the Order of the Silver Beaver. He helped found the Gloucester-Mathews Free Clinic. More significantly, John attended every wrestling match, football and soccer game in which his sons ever played. John is survived by his wife of 40 years, Margaret (“Peggy”) Runnels Bowditch; his son, Sherwood Hornsby Bowditch; his brothers, David Bowditch and wife, Rene of Williamsburg and Gloucester Point, and Phillip Bowditch and wife, Lee of Newport News; his sister-in-law, Catherine (“Kay”) Runnels Merril and her husband, Steve of Clifton. He delighted in his numerous nieces and nephews, and his godchildren, whom he adored. His son, Leland Coffey Bowditch, preceded him in death. Funeral services, officiated by the Rev. Sven L. vanBaars and the Rev. Anne Hodges-Copple, will be held at 4 p.m. Monday, March 5, 2012, at Abingdon Episcopal Church. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. In John’s memory, contributions may be made to the Boys and Girls Club of Gloucester, 7066 Hayes Shopping Center, Hayes, VA 23072 and Abingdon Episcopal Church, P. O. Box 82, White Marsh, VA 23183. Arrangements by Hogg Funeral Home and Crematory, Gloucester Point. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks. Tags: 1967

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Tags: 1967
Mr. Tnerb Richardson 2026

Citadel Alumni

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The Citadel Alumni Association is a self-supporting organization with the mission to support, advance and promote the ideals and purposes of The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina, the Corps of Cadets, and the Alumni.

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