Shrewsbury – The weights ran down and the pendulum stopped for David Gordon Gow, Clockmaker, 72, of Shrewsbury. He died on July 3, 2021 – a short time after being diagnosed with cardiac amyloidosis.
David was born in West Hills, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on Nov 4, 1948, the son of the late David and Mary Jean (Munro) Gow and younger brother to the late Neil M Gow.
He is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Barbara Anne (Bedwell) Gow; two sons, Callum Gow and his wife Kelly Kulsrud and Burgess Gow and his wife Jeanine; and his three grandchildren, Kay, Farryn, and Finlay. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Hanna Solska; his two nephews, Neil S. Gow and his wife Joan Beth and David M Gow and his wife Renee; his niece, Susan Ferguson; and many other in-laws, nephews, and nieces.
David left school at 16 to complete a five-year apprenticeship in fine woodworking – where he started on his path to becoming a true craftsman. While still in Scotland, he met and married Barbara who was visiting from Canada. They packed their bags (and most notably his Scottish frugality) and went on a one-year missionary trip to Minas Gerais, Brazil. This was followed by six years in Barbara’s native British Columbia, Canada where his two sons were born, then three years in Worcester before finally moving to Shrewsbury where he resided for over 30 years.
As a highly respected horologist, he restored clocks for many institutions and museums. This included clocks in the U.S. Senate chambers and the Willard House and Clock Museum where he was conservator for over 25 years. In addition, he restored clocks for private collectors around the world. Many of his clients have become close friends.
David was extremely curious and an extraordinary do-it-yourselfer which led him to take up many projects and hobbies including beekeeping, piano playing, boatbuilding, fishing, building restoration, car maintenance and winemaking. His favorite pastime was sailing around the Narragansett Bay and in the Bahamas.
He was a man of God expressing his Christianity through his love, patience and concern for everyone. He was a longtime member of the Congregational Church of Grafton where he served as a deacon and member of pastoral search committees; he also helped restore the church’s historically significant exterior.
A memorial service will be held at the Congregational Church of Grafton on Aug. 21, followed by A Celebration of Life at the Willard House and Clock Museum.
Please consider a donation to the David Gow Horological Education Fund at The Willard House and Clock Museum to help foster the education of the next generation of clockmakers.
Roney Funeral Home of North Grafton with the arrangements.
