Christopher Clay Bowser, “Chris”, 65, of Mechanicsville, MD, passed away on May 2, 2026, in Washington, D.C. Born on December 7, 1960, in Washington, D.C., he was the son of the late Roberta Kathleen Pooser and the late William Clyde Bowser, Jr. Chris was the husband of Karon Gaye Joyner, whom he married in Warrenton, VA on April 26, 1998. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children, Carter Lee Bowser, of Albuquerque, NM, Clay Andrew Bowser (Jade) of Aiea, HI, Conner Royston Bowser of Jacksonville, FL, and Cole Joyner Bowser of Mechanicsville, MD, as well as his brother Jeffrey Lee Bowser, of Laurel, MD. Chris was preceded in death by his brother, Douglas Andrew Bowser. Chris is also survived by his nephews, Kenneth Ryan Bowser and Gregory Allen Bowser of Laurel, MD as well as numerous cousins.
Chris graduated from Annandale High School in Annandale, VA in 1978 and earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1983 from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Chris was a co-op student with the FAA while attending Virginia Tech. After graduation, Chris was hired as an Aerospace Engineer in the Mass Properties Division and continued his federal career with Naval Air Systems Command in Arlington, VA and NAS Patuxent River MD. He moved to St. Mary’s County, MD from Fairfax, VA in November 1998. He was very active in the Society of Allied Weights Engineers during his federal career. Chris retired from federal service on May 31, 2012 after over 30 years of federal service.
The family will receive friends on Monday, June 1, 2026, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, MD. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 10:00 AM at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, Mechanicsville, MD. Interment will follow at Charles Memorial Gardens, Leonardtown, MD.
Serving as pallbearers will be Carter Lee Bowser, Clay Andrew Bowser, Conner Royston Bowser, Cole Joyner Bowser, Kenneth Ryan Bowser, and Gregory Alan Bowser.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Liver Foundation, the Center for Dementia Research, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or the Mt. Zion UMC in Mechanicsville, MD.
Condolences may be made to the family at www.mgfh.com.
Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home and Cremation Services, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.