Harold D. "Bud" Bower

Harold Duane “Bud” Bower, 90, died March 21, 2011, following a brief illness. He was a resident of Country Lawn Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Navarre, OH.

He was born April 8, 1920 in Uhrichsville, Ohio to the late Cletus A. Bower, and the late Myrtle M (Gatchell) Bower. Bud attended Uhrichsville High School and graduated in 1938. He attended Ohio State University and studied Mechanical Engineering until he enlisted in United States Army Air Corp in 1941. He served our 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, he worked as a General Service Manager for Cummins Diesel in Uhrichsville, before he became the Service Manager for the City Auto Company (also in Uhrichsville), which was owned by his father. While managing at the City Auto, he also ran the wrecker and performed mechanical and body repairs. Bud became the owner of the City Auto after the passing of his father in 1975. In 1981, Bud sold the 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 & 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 muzzle-loaders. 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.

His six daughters survive him: Suzanne Bower of Uhrichsville, Ohio; Erin Hardin “Cookie” Bower of Kent, Ohio; Elizabeth “Beth” Bower of Wichita, Kansas; Luanne “Lulu” Blick (Robert) of Dennison, Ohio; Lee Ellen Fritter (Jeffrey) of Freeport, Ohio, and Monica Lee Cochran (Richard) of Warrensburg, Missouri. Also surviving are eleven grandchildren, seven great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild. He is preceded in death by his wife Betty (Warner) Bower, his first wife Lucye (Howard) Bower, a sister Betty L. Bower, and a brother Cletus A. Bower.

A graveside service with a military committal will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 15, 2011 in Union Cemetery at Uhrichsville.
R.K. Lindsey Funeral Home, Inc.
(740) 922-1970
www.lindseyfh.com