Victor B. Bowling, longtime resident of La Plata, passed away quietly August 10 shortly after 10 pm in the town he loved. He was 84.

Born December 17, 1929 to the late Victor Benjamin Bowling Sr. and the late Evelyn Young Bowling and raised in Charles County, he loved his family, hunting and fishing, Dixieland jazz, and watching local sports including the Washington Senators, Nationals, Capitals and Redskins and the Baltimore Orioles. He enjoyed sharing colorful stories of life in the area with friends and family.

After graduating from La Plata High School in La Plata his college plans were interrupted by an accident. He joined the U.S. Navy before he could return to college. He served 3 years aboard the escort carrier USS Mindoro, including one extra year of service during the Korean War.

He returned to Charles County, got married and settled down. He opened Vic's Service Station on Washington Avenue where he dispensed Sinclair gasoline for several years. As his family grew he sold the station and opened Vic's Magic Wash Laundromat which he successfully ran for over 30 years until he retired. He also acted as a salesman for Motrol Electric Corp. and was partner in the Bow-Mar Carwash in La Plata.

Vic served four successive terms as La Plata's mayor, including the Centennial Celebration year of 1988. He also served several years on the La Plata Town Council and belonged to the Charles County Chamber of Commerce. He joined the La Plata Volunteer Fire Department in 1943, serving as a fireman for a number of years when manpower was short due to WW2. He was later inducted into the Southern Maryland Volunteer Fire Association's Hall of Fame. But his greatest love and devotion to service was to the Charles County Rescue Squad.

He joined the Rescue Squad in 1952, becoming one of the County's first EMTs and maintained an active relationship with the Squad until his health no longer permitted. Before the squad had officially formed he ran emergency calls with other local teens by helping to transport people in need to the hospital. Affectionately known as "Uncle Vic," he shared his knowledge and expertise training generations of new squad members for over 50 years. He responded to over 10,000 calls during his years of service and received recognition from many sources including the Mayor of La Plata, the La Plata Town Council, the Charles County Commissioners, the Maryland Senate, the Governor of Maryland, The United States Congress and the President of the United States. He was awarded the status of "Squad man Emeritus" and proudly displayed the first Life Rescue service license plate issued by the state of Maryland on his truck until the day he died.

He is survived by his wife of over 60 years, Dorothy Clagett Bowling, four children: Beverly Bowling Story (Donald) of Wilkesboro North Carolina, Benjamin Allan Bowling (Sheila) of St Mary's City Maryland, Steuart Clagett Bowling (Clara) of La Plata, and James Victor Bowling (Amanda) of La Plata; 6 grandchildren: Allan Robert Bowling, Emily Elizabeth Bowling, James Michael Bowling, Nathaniel Iacovangelo Bowling, Evelyn Loh Bowling and Katherine Mak Bowling and a step granddaughter Alexis Walker of La Plata. He is also survived by his sisters Patricia Albrittain, and Anne Davis both of La Plata and his brother Samuel Young Bowling (Joan) of Rock Point Maryland.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday August 13, 2014 at the Arehart-Echols Funeral Home, La Plata, MD from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8pm with prayers at 7pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be said on Thursday August 14, 2014 10am at the Sacred Heart Church La Plata, Md. Interment to follow at the Trinity Memorial Gardens Waldorf, MD.

Memorials may be made to the Charles County Volunteer Rescue Squad. Arrangements provided by Arehart-Echols Funeral Home.