Retired Air Force Col. John W. Bowen III, a long-time resident of Valparaiso, Fla., and a former Okaloosa County judge, died Aug. 9, 2009, in Jacksonville, Fla., after a short illness. He was 93.Judge Bowen was born and raised on a farm near Baltimore. He graduated from the University of Baltimore in 1939 with a law degree. He volunteered for the U.S. Army in 1941, and during World War II served as a pilot and flight instructor for the Army Air Corps. He was involved in building air fields across France in the days immediately following the D-Day invasion.After the war he joined the Judge Advocate General corps of the Air Force. One of the highlights of his career occurred when he was asked to fly during the Berlin Airlift in 1947-1948. While stationed in Germany he met and married an Air Force secretary, Gwendoline Joan Rogers of London, England. They were married for 59 years until her death in 2006. A year later, Judge Bowen left the Fort Walton Beach area to live closer to his son, Marshall and family, in Jacksonville.During his Air Force career, Col. Bowen also served in Texas, England, the Washington D.C., area (the Pentagon and Bolling Air Force Base), and Alaska. His ended his career as the staff JAG at Eglin AFB. Following his retirement in 1970, he was active in the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce and various community organizations. In 1971 he was appointed by Gov. Rubin Askew as Okaloosa County Judge following the death of Judge Joe Livingston. He served as county judge until 1972.He was known and loved for his perpetual optimism, cheerfulness and friendliness to all. He was a devoted husband and a loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was an accomplished athlete in his youth and remained an excellent golfer well into his eighties. He loved gardening, boating and long walks through his Valparaiso neighborhood.He is survived by his brother, Edward of Pensacola, Fla.; his sons, John IV (Jack) of Falls Church, Va., and Marshall of Jacksonville, daughters-in-law, Mary and Debra; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.After a family memorial service in Jacksonville, he will be interred in Valparaiso's Sunset Cemetery on Aug. 24, following a graveside service with full military honors. Please visit our online Tribute at www.quinn-shalz.com. Services under the care and direction of Quinn-Shalz, A Family Funeral Home, Jacksonville Beach, Fla.