Gaylon H. McGowan, Jr.

1928 – 2023

Gaylon H. McGowan Jr, of Robbinsville, NJ, passed away February 19, 2023, at Capital Health Medical Center Hopewell, after a short illness at age 94.

Gaylon (Mac) was born in Island Falls, Maine in 1928 to Gaylon Sr and Elizabeth Green McGowan.  He was raised in Fanwood, NJ and graduated from Scotch Plains High School.  Upon graduation he enlisted in the Marine Corps and served for 2 years.  After his discharge he went to University of Maine on the GI bill.  He married the love of his life, Gloria DiFrancesco, in 1949 and lived in GI housing.  He graduated with a degree in Animal Husbandry and bought a dairy farm in E Holden Maine. He farmed until 1964, then relocated to Ewing, NJ. He continued his education at The College of New Jersey where he received a Master’s degree in Education.   Gaylon was a horticulturist and teacher at Johnstone Training Center in Bordentown until his retirement in 1991.  They moved to Cape May where his love of fishing continued for many years.  Finally, they moved to Robbinsville to be near family and friends.

Predeceased by his daughter, Valerie McGowan, he is survived by his wife Gloria, two daughters, Donna Micai (Dennis), and Elaine McGowan, a son Michael (Sheree), grandsons Martin and Matthew, granddaughter Alison (Matt) and two great grandchildren, Madison and Aiden.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, February 23, at 11:00 am at St. John the Baptist RC Church, 1282 Yardville Allentown Road, Allentown, NJ. Visitation will be at the church from 10:00 am until the time of Mass. Burial will follow at Ewing Cemetery.

In Lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to:  Enable Inc of Princeton, NJ (enablenj.org) or Marty’s Place Senior Dog Sanctuary (MartysPlace.org), 118 County Road 526, Allentown, NJ, 08501.

Funeral arrangements are by Orland’s Ewing Memorial Chapel.