Robert J. Bowers

Robert J. Bowers, born April 20, 1925 at Warren, Pa., son of the late Richard W. and Mary C. (Pamula) Bowers, passed away August 14, 2009.

He graduated from Technical High School, Erie, Pa., and enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet program. He attended pre-aviation Cadet College training at Marshall College, Huntington, West Virginia, Aviation Cadet Pre-Flight School at the Aviation Cadet Center, San Antonio, Texas, Aviation Cadet Primary School as student pilot at Parks Air College, Sikeston, Mo. He graduated from Army Air Forces Technical School as an Aviation Mechanic at the Amarillo Army Air Field, Amarillo, Texas and from the Ford Motor Co. B-24 Bomber Factory School at Ypsilanti, Mich. He received flying time as Flight Engineer on the B-24 Liberator and Auxiliary Power Plant Operator on the B-29 Super fortress at Lowry Army Air Field, Denver, Colorado. He was assigned to the Commanding General's flight and ground crew on a B-17 Flying Fortress at Amarillo Army Air Field, Amarillo, Texas. He was discharged from the Army Air Force on February 20, 1946 and was awarded the Good Conduct Metal, American Theater Service Metal, World War II Victory Metal, and the Sharpshooter Badge. While in high school he worked in a Service Station at East 12th & Holland Street, Erie, Pa. as an attendant and auto mechanic.

After discharge from the Army, he was employed by The Erie Enameling Co., as an Architectural Draftsman and Product Engineer for seven and a half years, employed at Erveen Corp., Erie, Pa. as a Product Engineer for ten years, employed at The Erie Enameling Co. as Chief Engineer for five years, and at Ervite Corp. as Product Engineer. He was Project Engineer on many large projects and performed work as Programmer, Methods Engineer, and Tool Designer at Ervite Corp. for 22 years. He retired on April 30, 1990. While employed as Product and Project Engineer, he traveled to 39 of the 50 states to measure buildings for the application of Architectural Porcelain Enamel Facade.

He was preceded in death by his wife Dolores T. (Manolus) Bowers on April 11, 2002. He was married July 11, 1945 at St. Ann's R.C. Church, Erie, Pa. Also preceded in death by a son, Daniel R. who died August 5, 2005, two sisters, Irene M. Bowers and Pauline F. (Bowers) Schroeck and her husband Lawrence A., one nephew, Lawrence J. Schroeck and several aunts, uncles and cousins, and special friend Wanda Luce in May of this year. Survivors include two daughters, Jeannette M. Bowers, Julie A. Johnson, one granddaughter Mikayla, one daughter-in-law Marilyn Bowers, one sister Gloria M. Fuller, one aunt, Yetta Pamula and several cousin, nieces and nephews. He enjoyed photography, bowling and genealogy research of the family-taking three lines back to the mid and late 1400's in England, with the help of five distant cousins.

Relatives and friends may call at the EDWARD J. GARR FUNERAL HOME, 459 East 12 th Street, Erie, Pa. 16503, Monday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Services will be at the funeral home Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery

Send a Sympathy Note

Click here to print this page

Enhance your memorial with a slideshow and video

© DiBello Design - Erie Internet