Richard Russell Joseph Gowen

Richard Russell Joseph Gowen passed away at the age of 81, surrounded by his loving family in Prescott, Arizona, on February 25, 2026, after a battle with cancer.

Rick was born in Los Angeles, California, to Joseph L. Gowen and Mary Dotson on December 12, 1944. They were active members of St. Monica Church and had a wonderful family with ten children: Chloe, Tony, Terrence, Mary Jo, Gilbert, Marjorie, Dennis, Kathleen, Richard, and Janie.

Growing up, Rick and his siblings spent their summers on the beaches of Santa Monica, where he was also a junior lifeguard. His family later moved to the Bay Area, where Rick attended Bishop O’Dowd High School and later Skyline High School, from which he graduated. He then attended USC and Cal State Long Beach, initially majoring in Geology before switching to English. He had a passion for literature, especially poetry, and while he admired many authors, Robert Frost and Steinbeck were among his favorites.

In 1972, he met his future wife in Los Angeles, and they fell in love quickly, becoming lifelong partners. They went on to wed on July 28, 1973, and bought a home in West Los Angeles, California. Together, they raised four children. In 1995, they moved their family to Prescott, Arizona. Rick had always loved the outdoors and fell in love with the area after his first visit.

Rick worked at Hughes Aircraft as a Project Manager for a large part of his life. Later, he decided to pursue a teaching degree at Loyola Marymount University, fulfilling a lifelong desire to share his love of literature with others. Upon moving to Prescott, he changed careers one more time, working as a Human Resource Manager and a Transportation and Maintenance Manager until he retired at age 63.

Rick had many hobbies throughout his life. He enjoyed spending his free time woodworking and making furniture, taking pictures, and shooting guns outdoors. His favorite pastime, however, was spending time with his family. You could often find him on the field coaching or refereeing his children’s games.

Anyone who knew Rick recognized him as kind, intelligent, honest, and possessing a great sense of humor. He is predeceased by his son, Joe, and is survived by his wife, Rose; their children: Deirdre, Tony, and Jacob; as well as their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by his family.