Dr. Orville Bowers

Dr. Orville Edward Bowers

Dr. Orville Edward Bowers, 90 of Kirksville died Tuesday (Sept. 9, 2014) at Northeast Regional Medical Center.

The son of Ora Edward and Ethel Mahalia (Holt) Bowers, he was born September 26, 1923, near Novinger, Missouri, Adair County. He was united in marriage to Lila Mae Bergman, the daughter of Benjamin and Edith Enola (McCuskey) Bergman, August 11, 1946, in Queen City, Missouri who preceded him in death on September 18, 2009. He was also preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, John Wayne Bowers and Lester E. Bowers, and one great grandson, Jesse C. Neal.

He is survived by three sons, Dr. Richard Bowers and wife Linda (Slaughter) of Jefferson City, MO, Ronald Bowers and wife Joyce (Mountain) of Kirksville and Danny Bowers of Kirksville; and one sister, Deloris Cooley and husband Elmo of Henderson, NV.

Orville is also survived by six grandchildren, Amy and husband David Gaffney of Columbia, MO, Stacy and husband Brian Libey of Jefferson City, MO, Kelly Bowers of Jefferson City, MO, Eric Bowers of Jefferson City, MO, Ali and husband Bruce Neal Jr., of Keifer, OK and Paul Mountain of Queen City, MO; and 14 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.

Dr. Bowers was raised in rural Adair County and Kirksville , where he graduated from Kirksville High School in the class of 1941. After high school graduation and prior to his military service, he worked at Troesters Clothing Store and the local shoe factory. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942, where he was assigned as a co-pilot of a B-17 (Flying Fortress) crew. He served in the 99th Bomber Group, 15th Air Force in Italy until the end of WW II in Europe. He was discharged from active duty October 5, 1945 as a 1st Lieutenant. The following day he joined the US Air Force Reserves and was active for twenty-one years retiring September 23, 1983 as a Lt. Colonel.

After separation from active military duty, he earned the Bachelor of Arts, and the Master of Arts at Northeast Missouri State Teachers College and a Doctor of Education degree from the University of Missouri in Columbia.

Dr. Bowers was employed by Northeast Missouri State Teachers College in 1950. In his early career at NMSU he was the University Registrar for nineteen years, and retired June 3, 1985 as a Professor of Education.

Orville was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene in Kirksville since 1948. He served on the local church board for forty-four years in several offices. He also served on the Missouri District of the church and was on the Board of Trustees of Midamerica Nazarene University.

Dr. Bowers has been a member of several social and professional organizations. At the time of his death he was active in his hobby of Genealogy. As one who had been interested in history and family he became eligible for membership of several groups. Some of the organizations were: The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, Society of the Descendants of Washington’s Army at Valley Forge, The Somerset Chapter Magna Charta Barons, the Huguenot Society of the Founders of Manakin in the Colony of Virginia, the Adair County Historical Society, National Society, National Order of Battlefield Commissions, United States Air Force Association, Retired Officers Association, and the 99th Bombers Group Historical Society. Also, the Retired Teachers Association of Missouri, Truman State University Alumni Association, University of Missouri Alumni Association, the American Legion, National Genealogical Society, General Society of Colonial Wars, and Phi Delta Kappa (53 years).

Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 13, 2014) at Church of the Nazarene with Pastor Michael Askew officiating. Burial with military rites will be in Park View memorial Gardens.

Visitation will be from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Saturday at the Church of the Nazarene.

Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home
2100 E. Shepherd Ave.
Kirksville, MO 63501 660-665-2233

Memorials are suggested to Chariton Valley.