Harold Bower
Harold Duane “Bud” Bower, 90, died March 21, 2011, following a brief illness. He was a resident of Country Lawn Rehabilitation & Nursing Center, Navarre.
Bud was born April 8, 1920, in Uhrichsville, to the late Cletus A. and Myrtle M. Bower. He attended Uhrichsville High School and graduated in 1938, and then attended The Ohio State University and studied mechanical engineering until he enlisted in U.S. Army Air Corp in 1941. He served his country as a flight instructor in Florida, Alabama, and Georgia, and achieved the rank of 2nd lieutenant. He remained enlisted in the reserves for several years following the end of WWII.
After the war, Bud worked as a general service manager for Cummins Diesel, Uhrichsville, before he became the service manager for the City Auto Company, Uhrichsville, which was owned by his father. While managing at City Auto, he also ran the wrecker and performed mechanical and body repairs. Bud became the owner of City Auto after the passing of his father in 1975. In 1981, Bud sold City Auto and went into semi-retirement. He continued to sell cars for several years, and worked part-time for Schmidt Security Pro of North Eastern Ohio.
Bud was a member of many organizations including the American Legion, the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Ohio, the Tuscarawas County Amateur Radio Club, the Tuscarawas County Beekeeper’s Association, and the Nation Rifle Association.
Bud was extremely inquisitive and not only enjoyed an experiential, hands-on approach to learning, but loved to read as well. He was self-educated and very knowledgeable about a variety of subjects. Bud enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, boating, woodworking, and “puttering” with machines and appliances in his shop. He also worked with electronics, primarily radios. He was a gun trader and collector and liked to make and repair rifles, handguns, and muzzleloaders. For several years, he took an interest in honeybees and he kept and maintained several hives. His love of flying small airplanes stayed with him after the war ended, and he continued to fly until his failing eyesight wouldn’t permit him to continue. He continued living an active life until a few years ago when his ability to function began to deteriorate due to macular degeneration, hearing loss, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Surviving are daughters, Suzanne Bower of Uhrichsville, Erin Hardin “Cookie” Bower of Kent, Elizabeth “Beth” Bower of Wichita, Kan., Luanne “Lulu” (Robert) Blick of Dennison, Lee Ellen (Jeffrey) Fritter of Freeport, and Monica Lee (Richard) Cochran of Warrensburg, Mo.; 11 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Bower; his first wife, Lucye Bower; sister, Betty L. Bower; and brother, Cletus A. Bower.
Graveside services with a military committal will be held July 15, at 11 a.m., in Union Cemetery, Uhrichsville.
Bud was born April 8, 1920, in Uhrichsville, to the late Cletus A. and Myrtle M. Bower. He attended Uhrichsville High School and graduated in 1938, and then attended The Ohio State University and studied mechanical engineering until he enlisted in U.S. Army Air Corp in 1941. He served his country as a flight instructor in Florida, Alabama, and Georgia, and achieved the rank of 2nd lieutenant. He remained enlisted in the reserves for several years following the end of WWII.
After the war, Bud worked as a general service manager for Cummins Diesel, Uhrichsville, before he became the service manager for the City Auto Company, Uhrichsville, which was owned by his father. While managing at City Auto, he also ran the wrecker and performed mechanical and body repairs. Bud became the owner of City Auto after the passing of his father in 1975. In 1981, Bud sold City Auto and went into semi-retirement. He continued to sell cars for several years, and worked part-time for Schmidt Security Pro of North Eastern Ohio.
Bud was a member of many organizations including the American Legion, the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Ohio, the Tuscarawas County Amateur Radio Club, the Tuscarawas County Beekeeper’s Association, and the Nation Rifle Association.
Bud was extremely inquisitive and not only enjoyed an experiential, hands-on approach to learning, but loved to read as well. He was self-educated and very knowledgeable about a variety of subjects. Bud enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, boating, woodworking, and “puttering” with machines and appliances in his shop. He also worked with electronics, primarily radios. He was a gun trader and collector and liked to make and repair rifles, handguns, and muzzleloaders. For several years, he took an interest in honeybees and he kept and maintained several hives. His love of flying small airplanes stayed with him after the war ended, and he continued to fly until his failing eyesight wouldn’t permit him to continue. He continued living an active life until a few years ago when his ability to function began to deteriorate due to macular degeneration, hearing loss, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Surviving are daughters, Suzanne Bower of Uhrichsville, Erin Hardin “Cookie” Bower of Kent, Elizabeth “Beth” Bower of Wichita, Kan., Luanne “Lulu” (Robert) Blick of Dennison, Lee Ellen (Jeffrey) Fritter of Freeport, and Monica Lee (Richard) Cochran of Warrensburg, Mo.; 11 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Bower; his first wife, Lucye Bower; sister, Betty L. Bower; and brother, Cletus A. Bower.
Graveside services with a military committal will be held July 15, at 11 a.m., in Union Cemetery, Uhrichsville.
Published: April 4, 2011
