Harold L. Bowers

Harold L. Bowers, 95, died Feb. 16, 2009, at Hillsboro Community Medical Center Long-Term Care Unit.

Harold L. Bowers, the only child of Lee and Clara (Wolf) Bowers, was born Feb. 22, 1913, on the family farm on Middle Creek near Elk Community.

As a young boy, his family moved to the Youngtown Community. He was baptized in the Youngtown Evangelical Church. He attended Kleinhamer #104, a one-room grade school. He graduated from Marion High School in 1931. On Sept. 20, 1931, he married Jessie Higgins in the Lincolnville Evangelical Parsonage.

He and Jessie were the parents of 10 children, seven boys and three girls. They were able to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary with friends and family. Jessie died May 4, 1992.

Harold married Virginia Ayler Richardson, who has been a blessing to him and to his family, July 7, 1992.

Harold spent most of his working years as a heavy equipment operator. In 1934 and 1935, he drove a truck from the Marion area to New York for C.L. Pool. He and Henry Collett had a mechanic shop and worked on anything that had a motor, mostly Model As. He also was a driver for Santa Fe Bus Line immediately before and during World War II. He was able to operate a number of pieces of heavy equipment but took particular pride in being a finish blade operator.

As REA was moving into Marion County, he wired a number of homes. He finished his working career for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a heavy equipment operator and traveled to a number of lakes in the area to do crane work. He was forced to take disability retirement in 1977 because of his eyesight. Harold and Jessie then worked a number of years as campground hosts.

Harold was always willing to do community work. At Youngtown, he was a project leader in electricity for the Happy Hustlers 4-H Club. He was a Boy Scout leader. He was a girls’ softball coach for Marion for many years. He was active on the senior center board and delivered Friendship Meals as long as he was able.

Harold was a member of Eastmoor United Methodist Church of Marion. He was a third-degree mason and active in Eastern Star. He was a charter member of the Marionettes Camping Club and grand marshal of the 2008 Old Settlers’ Day Parade.

Harold had two hobbies he thoroughly enjoyed — camping and gardening. Family vacations were always camping trips. While camping, he was able to visit 47 states, Canada, and Mexico. After retirement, he and Jessie spent 10 winters in the Big Bend area in Texas. After his marriage to Virginia, they also were able to spend 10 winters at the same campground. He always had huge gardens and delighted in raising and eating tomatoes, including fried green tomatoes. Harold also gave away much of what he raised. Until he was 92, he continued to garden on his hands and knees.

Harold was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Jessie; and four children, Gerald, LeRoy, Linda, and Harold Jr.

He is survived by his wife, Virginia, of 16 years; two daughters, Carol of Wichita and Janice of Wakarusa; four sons, Vernon and Gene of Marion, Kenneth of St. Louis, Mo., and Norman of Olathe; 17 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation with family will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. today (Wednesday) at Zeiner Funeral Home, Marion.

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Eastmoor United Methodist Church, Marion.

Memorial funds have been established with the church or Marion Senior Center.