Donald C. Bowers

Devout Christian, meticulous, organized, proficient, perfectionist, and hardworking are just a few of many strong traits that could be used to describe Don Bowers. A man who taught the values that shaped lives; he will be dearly missed by his loving family.

It was during 1936 when Franklin D. Roosevelt was the 32nd President of the United States, construction of the Hoover Dam was completed, and the novel, Gone With the Wind was published, that Ira E. and Florence (Gallaspie) Bowers were anticipating the arrival of their second born child. During a major heat wave that struck North America with record setting high temperatures, Donald C. Bowers was born on July 8, 1936 at his uncles home near Spencerville in Allen County, Ohio, where they had been living at the time.

Don grew up in Ohio and as he was about to start his freshman year in high school, his parents divorced. He moved with his mother to Huntertown, Indiana and attended high school. He later stopped attending school and started working full time and would go between living with his mother in Indiana and father in Ohio. After he made the decision to leave school, he knew it was not the best one and knew he needed to achieve his high school diploma.

While working at Fort Meyers Truck Stop in Ft. Wayne during the day, Don took evening classes and went on to receive his diploma from Central High School. It was also during this time that he met a young lady who would change his life forever. Vivian R. Grim went with her friend to Fort Meyers for an interview. Vivian stayed in the car and noticed Don walking by. Knowing that her aunt and cousin had talked about a young man they knew by the name of Don that worked there, she thought she would see if this was the same guy. The two started talking and after Don moved back to Ohio and starting working over there, the two stayed in contact by writing letters to each other. He finally asked her on a date and after waking up at 5 a.m. and working all day, he drove back to Indiana and picked her up and took her to the movies. They soon found themselves in love and on June 11, 1954, they were married at Dr. Weddles parsonage in Ft. Wayne.

The young couple moved to her familys farm property in Lake Township, northwest of Ft. Wayne and Don also took some college classes at IPFW. Being a hard worker, he worked at Phelps Dodge, ITT, Magnavox and Borden Ice Cream Company. After Don and Vivian had two sons, Dennis and Mark, he found a more permanent position with International Harvester and remained with the plant for 18 years, until they closed in 1983. For five years he worked at Special Machine and Engineering and then DePuy Orthopedics in Warsaw approached him about working for them and he remained there until retiring in 2001 as a quality supervisor.

Besides all his full time work, Don started a part-time ceramic business he called Crestline. He enjoyed making ceramic and using his potters wheel and soon had an extensive collection of molds that he would use to make tea pots, vases and other ceramic items. Amongst his hard work, Don always found time for his faith. Every day he made sure to make it a priority, no matter how busy he was or how late it was, to read his bible and pray.

He was active with his church while attending Northside Missionary Church. He taught Sunday school classes, was a board member, superintendent and helped with the evangelism while being a member. As his mother-in-law became older and weaker, he helped care for her for 17 years. Not being able to walk well on her own, his mother-in-law was having a hard time with the steps at the church, so they started attending Dunfee Missionary Church and would soon become members. He also was a member of the Arcola Lions Club and Three Rivers Ceramic Association.

Don enjoyed taking his family each summer on a trip, with the first memorable one driving to Yellowstone National Park. He loaded up his family in their Valiant station wagon and pulled behind a camper. It was not long before they reached Columbia City when one of their boys asked if they were there yet, but they soon adjusted to traveling in the car and would end up visiting almost every state in the U.S. as the boys grew up. With the love of camping, Don enjoyed having Camp Bowers and going camping at various places with his now adult children and their families.

One for being meticulous and organized, Don always wanted everything to be in the right place and labeled. He often would straighten up his garage just as he had a few weeks prior and each spring, he would go through his fishing tackle box and make sure his fishing rods were in the correct working condition for the few times he would use it each year.

A man who taught honesty, respect and a hard work ethic, Don will be deeply missed by his family. Donald C. Bowers, 80, of rural Ft. Wayne, passed away in the early hours of Sunday morning, December 18, 2016 at Kingston Care Center where he had been for a few weeks. Survivors include his loving wife of 62 years, Vivian Bowers; sons, Dennis Bowers, of Ft. Wayne and Mark (Tammy) Bowers, of Colville, Washington; brother, Neil (Christine) Bowers, of Ft. Wayne; step-brother, Keith (Sue) McClain, of Ohio; six grandchildren, Justin (Kelly) Bowers, Heidi (Michael) Fussle, Wes (Lyssa) Bowers, Ben (Dana) Bowers, Josh (Ariane) Bowers and Hannah (Kyle) Ouimet; and 12 great-grandchildren, Natalie, Luke, Ethan, Dillon, Logan, Apollo, Ira, Soren, Viola, Noah, Chael and Elias. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ira Bowers and Florence Fulks; and brother, Wayne Bowers.

Visitation is 2-5 and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, December 21, 2016 at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home with Pastor Dennis Rowe officiating. Burial will follow at Eel River Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Dunfee Missionary Church or Heartland Hospice. Visit www.demoneygrimes.com to send family condolences or sign the guest register book.