George Colburn Bowers, 95

December 21, 2011

George Colburn Bowers, 95, died Dec. 16, 2011, while visiting family in Gladwin, Mich.

He was born March 2, 1916, in Punxsutawney, a son of the late William Arthur and Edith Blanch (Winslow) Bowers Sr.

Mr. Bowers was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater.  

He was a staff sergeant  serving in Hawaii, Guadalcanal, Auckland, New Zealand, New Caledonia, and Luzon, Philippines. He was awarded the Asiatic Theater Ribbon with three Bronze stars, the Philippines Liberation Ribbon with one Bronze star and a good conduct ribbon. He was honorably discharged in July 1945. 

After the war, he returned to Punxsutawney and began working for McCroy's Five-and-10 and went on to have a career in retail sales as a manager in Texas and Baltimore, Md.

Upon retirement, he resided in Punxsutawney with sisters Sarah and Edith (Fluffy) Bowers.

Mr. Bowers was a member of the First United Methodist Church.
He enjoyed gardening, taking long walks, drafting and was an avid reader. He also enjoyed classical music and playing the piano. He loved dogs, and his favorite was his dachshund, Bebe.

Surviving relatives include a niece, Ellen Bowers Navidonski; a grandniece, Stacy Stahl Couch and husband Brett; a great-grandnephew Shane Plowman; a grandnephew, Erik Stahl and wife Andrea; a great-grandniece, Breann; and a great-grandnephew, Lars, all of Michigan.
 In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Edward and William Arthur Jr.; and two sisters, Sarah and Edith Bowers of Punxsutawney.  

A memorial service will be held at a later date in Punxsutawney.