James "Jim" Bowyer
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On Monday, November 30, 2020, James Wallace "Jim" Bowyer, loving husband, father, grandfather and friend, passed away at the age of 78. Jim was born on August 22, 1942 in Jackson, Tennessee, to Fred Louis and Jane Ogier Bowyer. After growing up in Jackson, TN, he attended Georgia Institute of Technology where he joined the Alpha Sigma chapter of Kappa Alpha order. Jim received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 1964 and a Master of Science in Sanitary Engineering in 1966. While a senior at Georgia Tech, Jim married Jane Harvard, an Emory student from Brooksville, FL and Jim's wife for nearly 57 years. From 1965 to 1968, Jim proudly served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which included tours of duty in the Dominican Republic and the Republic of Vietnam. He earned the rank of 1st Lieutenant and received a bronze star. In 1972, Jim co-founded Bowyer-Singleton & Associates, Inc., a consulting engineering firm servicing land developers and transportation agencies throughout the State of Florida. Jim established and nurtured a family-type atmosphere while focusing on clients and providing superior services. His commitment to excellence, together with his philosophy of hiring the best in the industry, made Bowyer-Singleton one of the area's premier full-service civil engineering firms. Jim and Bowyer-Singleton were instrumental in developing several notable projects essential to the growth of Central Florida. Civic affiliations for Jim included serving on the Board of Directors of the Greater Orlando Chamber of Commerce, serving as President of the Board of Trustees for the Orlando Science Center, and serving on the Board of Directors for Loch Haven Park. Jim was very involved with his alma mater, Georgia Tech, and was proud of his family heritage there. Jim gave back to his alma mater in many ways including being a trustee for both the Alumni Association Board and the Georgia Tech Foundation. In 2006, he was inducted into the Georgia Tech College of Engineering Hall of Fame. This most prestigious honor, the highest award the college offers, is given to outstanding alumni who have made noteworthy contributions in the area of engineering. Go Jackets! Most important to Jim was his family. Jim loved family gatherings, playing golf, cooking, sharing wine, traveling, spending time on the Rainbow River in Dunnellon, FL and time in the mountains of Cashiers, NC. He loved a project ... always thinking, always creating. Jim was a member of the Cathedral Church of St. Luke, where he served several terms as a Chapter member and was the Cathedral Treasurer for many years. Jim is preceded in death by his father, mother and his sister, Belle. He is survived by his wife, Jane, and their three children, Elizabeth Bowyer Stephens (Bob), Katheryn Audrey Bowyer and Samuel Carnes Bowyer (Julie), five grandchildren including, Katheryn Stephens Welle (Mark), Charlotte Anne Stephens, Jane Elizabeth Stephens, Evans Samuel Bowyer, Caroline Lillian Bowyer and his faithful canine companion, Millie. Jim is also survived by his brother Fred (Lina) of Jackson, Tennessee, and many nephews and nieces. A small, family service will be held for Jim at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke in Orlando, FL on Wednesday, December 30, 2020. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Cathedral Church of St. Luke in memory of Jim Bowyer. (Cathedral Church of St. Luke, Post Office Box 2328, Orlando, FL 32802.)