Forrest Edwin Bowers peacefully entered Heaven on Wednesday, October 2, 2013 from the Louisburg Nursing Center. “Buck” was born on July 8, 1924 in Morganton, N.C. to Arthur Carlson Bowers and Minnie Mae Phillips Bowers. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Margaret Bowers; and his brothers, James and Phillip Bowers. He was 89 years old.
Upon graduating from high school, he studied airplane repair in Waco, Texas. Then Forrest served in the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946 as a Seaman First Class. He was trained as a radar operator and used those skills aboard the USS Gardiners Bay on the seas around Guam and China. The USS Gardiners Bay was one of the first ships to enter Tokyo Bay after the Japanese surrendered in World War II. Following his naval career, he worked as a bridge construction supervisor for Bowers Constructon Company. While constructing bridges in Louisburg,NC, he met Mildred Doran Murphy and they were married on June 12, 1947. After raising three children, he worked as an audio visual technician for the Public Schools of Franklin County.
He was a deacon and choir member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church and served on various committees over the years. Forrest loved fishing, hunting, photography, and working with flowers. He was known for his beautiful roses and won awards for his daffodils. He dearly loved his family.
Forrest is survived by his wife of 66 years, Mildred Bowers, and by their three children: Randy and his wife, Ellen, of Louisburg, NC; Betty and her husband, Eric Walters, of Orrum, NC; and Dale and his wife, Pam, of Henderson, NV. He is also survived by six grandchildren: Anthony Bowers and his wife, Linda, of Daytona Beach, Fla; Holly Byrd and her husband, Jeremy, of Hampstead, NC; Daniel Walters and his wife, Hannah, of Wilmington, NC; Joseph Walters of Wilmington, NC; and Kim and Drew Bowers of Henderson, NV. He had four great-grandchildren: Sara Bowers, Cole and Caitlin Byrd, and Deacon Walters. A brother-in-law P.G. Murphy, and two sisters-in-law, Sally Murphy and Mary Murphy, all of Louisburg, NC, also survive him.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Mt. Zion Baptist Church with the Reverend Dustin Mace on Saturday, October 5th at 2:00 p.m. followed by a graveside service at Lancaster Memorial Park. The family will receive friends after the service at Lancaster Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial gift to the food bank ministry of Living Word Church, c/o Mrs. Betty B. Walters, 4639 South Creek Road, Orrum, North Carolina 28369 or to the building fund of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 111 Laurel Mill Road, Louisburg, North Carolina 27549.
Arrangements are being handled by Lancaster Funeral and Cremation Services, Louisburg. Online condolences may be made to www.lancasterfes.com.
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