Paul H. Bowers Sr.

Paul H. Bowers Sr., 88, of Zanesville, died at 4:45 p.m. Tuesday, March 10, 2009 at Summerville at North Hills after a 4 year battle with cancer. Paul was born October 7, 1920, in Zanesville, a son of the late John Riley and Cora L. Gibbens Bowers. He was a graduate of Zanesville Lash High School, Class of 1939, and the Meredith Business College. While he was still in high school, at the age of 15, he started his own business, Paul's Curb Service at the east end of the Monroe St. Bridge. On June 6, 1942, he and Vonda June Milstead were married in Greenup, KY. On October 24, 1942, Paul was inducted into the U.S. Army. After training at Ft. Sill, OK., he was sent to North Africa where he was assigned to the 18th Repl. Bn. In April of 1944, the Battalion moved to Italy, where he served until Nov. 1945. Paul was discharged on Nov. 15, 1945 with the rank of Tec. 5. He received the Good Conduct Medal, the EAME Service Medal with 2 battle participation stars, and the WWII Victory Medal. After returning home, Paul worked at McBride Maytag for 11 years and 28 years for General Electric Company, where he retired. Paul was a lifetime member of the Euclid Ave. U.M. Church, where he served on nearly every committee and was a Lay Speaker at one time. He was a 65 year member of LaFayette Lodge #79 F&AM, Scottish Rite 32 Valley of Cambridge, York Rite Knights Templar, was a member of the Mediterranean Base Masonic Club in Oran, Algeria, when he was serving in North Africa and the General Electric Quarter Century Club. Paul had many hobbies, including writing true stories of WWII, which many were printed in the Times Recorder. Besides his loving wife of 66 years, Vonda June Milstead Bowers, Paul is survived by a son, Paul H. (Jeanie) Bowers of Zanesville; a daughter, Donna J. (John) Myers of Nashport; 4 grandchildren, Jennifer (Mike) Snode of Zanesville, Wesley Bowers of Indiana, Owen J. (Elizabeth) Myers of Columbus and Bethany (Ryan) Miller of Indiana; 4 great grandchildren, Colin and Caitlyn Snode of Zanesville and Keira and Olivia Miller of Indiana. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Lester T. Bowers. Friends may call 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. Friday, March 13, 2009 at the Bolin-Dierkes Funeral Home, 1271 Blue Ave., Zanesville where Lafayette Lodge #79 F&AM will hold services at 5:45 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 14, 2009 at the funeral home with Pastor Clarence Dinnen officiating. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. VFW George Selsam Post #1058 in conjunction with the United States Army will hold full military rites at the graveside.