Parkin T. “Tom” Sowden, Jr. who was born Nov. 26, 1923, died on Oct. 3. Tom was raised in Palatine Bridge, N.Y., graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy and went on to graduate with a B.S. in chemical engineering from Princeton University in 1943. Tom served in WWII as a First Lieutenant with the occupation forces in Japan.
In 1946 he married his first wife, Jane Fuller, and went to work for Phillips Petroleum. He eventually became Superintendent of Operations in a process development pilot plant, working on a new high-density polyethylene plastic called Marlex in Houston, Tex. He was awarded two patents during those years. In 1962 he headed up the formation of Phillips Fibers Corporation in Greenville, S.C., producing nylon, polyester and olefin synthetic fibers. Jane passed away in 1971 of complications from polio.
In 1974 he married Margaret Hillis and they traveled the world while he was Executive VP of International Licensing. Retiring after 40 years with Phillips, they moved back to Greenville in 1979 to become again a part of the community he loved. Tom and Margaret were 37-year summer residents of Christmas Cove and South Bristol. He loved cruising up and down the Maine coast in his boat, the Tomare. He was a board member of the Christmas Cove Improvement Association and President in 2000, leading the celebration of their Centennial.
He was predeceased by his daughter, Ann Sowden Schadle of Denver, Col.
He is survived by his son, Dr. David Sowden of Ft. Wayne, Ind; grandchildren, Carrie Sowden, Jane Brzostowicz, Chandler Sowden, Sean Leahy, Ryan Leahy, and Shannon Greenbaum; great grandchild, Madison Brzostowicz; stepdaughter, Elizabeth (John) Lyons of Greenville, S.C.; and stepson, Fritz (Claudia) Voelker of Denver, Col.
Memorial donations may be directed toward the Rotary International Foundation for eradication of polio. Checks may be made to the Rotary Club of Greenville, 728 N. Pleasantburg Dr., Greenville, SC 29607. Memo line to read: In Memory of P.T. Sowden, Jr.