Allen W. Jowders

Allen W. “Rollie” Jowders, 90, lifetime resident of Wilton, NH, died on January 19, 2021 at Ledgewood Bay, Milford, NH. He was born in Wilton, NH on July 23, 1930, a son of Walter Jowders and Helen (Draper) Jowders. He was raised and educated in Wilton, and graduated from Wilton High School, Class of 1949. Allen enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1951. In 1953, he directly participated in the above ground atomic bomb test codenamed “Badger”, as part of the Operation Upshot-Knothole nuclear tests. Mr. Jowders was involved with troop maneuvers in the immediate vicinity of the explosions, to evaluate the effects of nuclear weapons such as radiation on troops and equipment. He was honorably discharged in 1953 with the rank of Corporal. He had been employed by the Wilton Telephone Company, where he worked as a lineman for over 40 years, before his retirement in 1992. He was a dedicated husband, loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather, who loved spending time with his family, most especially attending his grandchildren’s sporting games and activities. He was a New England sports fan and avid golfer. Well known for being Mr. Fixit and puttering around the house and yard. Mr. Jowders was a seventy-five year member of the Second Congregational Church of Wilton, where he served on various committees and as the Trustee. He was also a member of the American Legion Post #10, and served many years as a volunteer member of the Wilton Fire Department. He was predeceased by his loving wife, Priscilla (Conti) Jowders, who died in 2019; and his son, John A. Jowders, who died in 2020; two sisters, Frieda Warren, Isabel Devereaux, two brothers, Harold Jowders and Richard Jowders. Mr. Jowders is survived by his two daughters and sons-in-law, Susan and Kevin Jean of Wilton, NH, Patricia and Steven Rafter of Milford, NH; daughter-in-law, Robin Jowders of Wilton, NH; seven grandchildren and their spouses, Nicholas and Kalie Jowders of Billerica, MA, Jaclyn and Timothy Herlihy of Wilton, NH, Jillian and Patrick Brooks of Wilton, NH, Joshua and Jillian Rafter of Milford, NH, Kelly Jean of Jaffrey, NH, Sok Ly of Long Beach, CA, and Matt Jean of Raeford, NC; nine great-grandchildren; a sister, Carolyn Underwood of Bedford, NH; a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Natalie and Grayson Parker of Wilton, NH; many nieces, nephews and cousins. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 24th at 11:00am in the Second Congregational Church of Wilton, 25 Gregg Street, Wilton, NH. Burial will follow in Laurel Hill Cemetery, Wilton. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Second Congregational Church of Wilton, P.O. Box 246, 25 Gregg Street, Wilton, NH 03086-0246 or to Home Health and Hospice Care, 7 Executive Park Drive, Merrimack, NH 03054.