Fredric George Bouwman

Captain, U.S. Navy

Fredric George Bouwman was born on 5 October 1924 in Wayland, MI. Bouwman moved to Fremont, MI, where he graduated from high school as president of his senior class. He attended Western Michigan University for one year before receiving a Congressional appointment to attend the U.S. Naval Academy. He graduated in the 8th Company in 1946 (Class of 1947). In July 1946, he married Ethel M. Northwood of Wilmington, DE.

He served on the Cruiser USS Chicago and Carrier USS Antietam before entering flight training and earning his wings as a Naval Aviator in the last flight of Hellcats. He transitioned to jets in the TV1, the Navy designation of the Air Force F-80, and was assigned to VF-61 flying the F9F-2.

Tours followed as Landing Signal Officer in Air Wing 6; Air Traffic Control Officer at NAS Oceana; VF-74; Test Pilot School; and Armed Forces Staff College. In 1964, he was Commanding Officer of VF-102 serving on the USS Enterprise when she made history in the first round-the-world tour of a nuclear powered aircraft carrier.

Subsequent tours of duty included Commanding Officer of VF-101, Operations Officer, USS America, Naval Air Systems Command HQ, Commanding Officer, USS Marias, and both as Commander and Chief of Staff of ComCruDesGroup 12. He served his final tour as Deputy Commander, Naval Base, Norfolk, and retired from the Navy in 1976.

Always an avid traveler, Ethel followed her husband's ship on several cruises to the Mediterranean - even to the point of having both children attend school in Italy to be closer to their father.

In retirement, Fredric Bouwman attended George Washington University, earned an M.S. degree, and was employed by RCA working on the AEGIS Weapons Systems. Upon retirement from civilian employment, he continued his hobby of woodworking and began traveling the world for pleasure.

Fredric and Ethel's travel together during retirement spanned many years, many countries, and most continents. When at home in Virginia Beach, he enjoyed riding his moped and often claimed that he went around the world again - having logged 40,074 kilometers on the moped.

Death and Burial

Captain Bouwman died of a heart attack on 27 May 2010. He is buried at the United States Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, MD. He was survived by his wife of 64 years, Ethel; their two children, Sandra and Arthur; and his sister, Rena Blakkan.

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