Willis Freeman Bowers, 81, Salida, died Feb. 28, 2005 at his residence.
Mr. Bowers was born May 30, 1923 in Center to William F. and Annie L. (Seyfried) Bowers.
He was a Colorado native whose parents pioneered in the San Luis Valley.
He was a veteran of the Army Air Corps during World War II. He served with the 7th Army Air Corps and was attached to the 319th Bomb Group and the 437th Bomb Squadron as ammunition and armament specialist from 1942-46.
Mr. Bowers attained the rank of Corporal.
He was also involved in the air offensive campaign against Japan at Ryukyus Islands, Okinawa in the Pacific. Mr. Bowers received the American Service Medal, Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.
After serving in the Army, he was a rancher in the San Luis Valley in the 1940s and '50s. In 1954 he started his own business, Bowers Upholstery, and the business continued to operate until his death.
He was a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Chaffee County Sheriff's Patrol Search and Rescue, and a past member of the Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge in Colorado Springs. Mr. Bowers was a Past Post Commander with the San Luis Valley American Legion.
He was at one time a Stewart in the Nazarene Church and was a past member of the Center Methodist Church.
Mr. Bowers also was a trades instructor at Colorado Mountain College and the Buena Vista Correctional Facility.
He loved hunting and fishing, and was a devoted husband and father.
He is survived by his sons, David (Cheryl) Bowers of Parachute and Michael (Cindy) Bowers of Salida; daughter, Lola Lori Bowers-Myers of Belgrade, Mont.; 15 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and son-in-law, Ronnie Bristow of Hawley, Texas.
He is also survived by Travis (Virginia) Seyfried of Monte Vista.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Dorothy "Darlene" Bowers; son, Virgil William Bowers; daughter, Connie Jean Bristow; siblings Bryan, John, Herbert, Mary and Esther.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. March 3, 2005 at United Methodist Church, Salida.
Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery.
Memorial contributions can be made to Chaffee County Sheriff's Patrol Search and Rescue, through Lewis and Glenn Funeral Home.
Mr. Bowers was born May 30, 1923 in Center to William F. and Annie L. (Seyfried) Bowers.
He was a Colorado native whose parents pioneered in the San Luis Valley.
He was a veteran of the Army Air Corps during World War II. He served with the 7th Army Air Corps and was attached to the 319th Bomb Group and the 437th Bomb Squadron as ammunition and armament specialist from 1942-46.
Mr. Bowers attained the rank of Corporal.
He was also involved in the air offensive campaign against Japan at Ryukyus Islands, Okinawa in the Pacific. Mr. Bowers received the American Service Medal, Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.
After serving in the Army, he was a rancher in the San Luis Valley in the 1940s and '50s. In 1954 he started his own business, Bowers Upholstery, and the business continued to operate until his death.
He was a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Chaffee County Sheriff's Patrol Search and Rescue, and a past member of the Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge in Colorado Springs. Mr. Bowers was a Past Post Commander with the San Luis Valley American Legion.
He was at one time a Stewart in the Nazarene Church and was a past member of the Center Methodist Church.
Mr. Bowers also was a trades instructor at Colorado Mountain College and the Buena Vista Correctional Facility.
He loved hunting and fishing, and was a devoted husband and father.
He is survived by his sons, David (Cheryl) Bowers of Parachute and Michael (Cindy) Bowers of Salida; daughter, Lola Lori Bowers-Myers of Belgrade, Mont.; 15 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and son-in-law, Ronnie Bristow of Hawley, Texas.
He is also survived by Travis (Virginia) Seyfried of Monte Vista.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Dorothy "Darlene" Bowers; son, Virgil William Bowers; daughter, Connie Jean Bristow; siblings Bryan, John, Herbert, Mary and Esther.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. March 3, 2005 at United Methodist Church, Salida.
Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery.
Memorial contributions can be made to Chaffee County Sheriff's Patrol Search and Rescue, through Lewis and Glenn Funeral Home.
Willis Freeman Bowers, 81, Salida, died Feb. 28, 2005 at his residence.
Mr. Bowers was born May 30, 1923 in Center to William F. and Annie L. (Seyfried) Bowers.
He was a Colorado native whose parents pioneered in the San Luis Valley.
He was a veteran of the Army Air Corps during World War II. He served with the 7th Army Air Corps and was attached to the 319th Bomb Group and the 437th Bomb Squadron as ammunition and armament specialist from 1942-46.
Mr. Bowers attained the rank of Corporal.
He was also involved in the air offensive campaign against Japan at Ryukyus Islands, Okinawa in the Pacific. Mr. Bowers received the American Service Medal, Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.
After serving in the Army, he was a rancher in the San Luis Valley in the 1940s and '50s. In 1954 he started his own business, Bowers Upholstery, and the business continued to operate until his death.
He was a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Chaffee County Sheriff's Patrol Search and Rescue, and a past member of the Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge in Colorado Springs. Mr. Bowers was a Past Post Commander with the San Luis Valley American Legion.
He was at one time a Stewart in the Nazarene Church and was a past member of the Center Methodist Church.
Mr. Bowers also was a trades instructor at Colorado Mountain College and the Buena Vista Correctional Facility.
He loved hunting and fishing, and was a devoted husband and father.
He is survived by his sons, David (Cheryl) Bowers of Parachute and Michael (Cindy) Bowers of Salida; daughter, Lola Lori Bowers-Myers of Belgrade, Mont.; 15 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and son-in-law, Ronnie Bristow of Hawley, Texas.
He is also survived by Travis (Virginia) Seyfried of Monte Vista.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Dorothy "Darlene" Bowers; son, Virgil William Bowers; daughter, Connie Jean Bristow; siblings Bryan, John, Herbert, Mary and Esther.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. March 3, 2005 at United Methodist Church, Salida.
Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery.
Memorial contributions can be made to Chaffee County Sheriff's Patrol Search and Rescue, through Lewis and Glenn Funeral Home.
Mr. Bowers was born May 30, 1923 in Center to William F. and Annie L. (Seyfried) Bowers.
He was a Colorado native whose parents pioneered in the San Luis Valley.
He was a veteran of the Army Air Corps during World War II. He served with the 7th Army Air Corps and was attached to the 319th Bomb Group and the 437th Bomb Squadron as ammunition and armament specialist from 1942-46.
Mr. Bowers attained the rank of Corporal.
He was also involved in the air offensive campaign against Japan at Ryukyus Islands, Okinawa in the Pacific. Mr. Bowers received the American Service Medal, Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.
After serving in the Army, he was a rancher in the San Luis Valley in the 1940s and '50s. In 1954 he started his own business, Bowers Upholstery, and the business continued to operate until his death.
He was a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Chaffee County Sheriff's Patrol Search and Rescue, and a past member of the Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge in Colorado Springs. Mr. Bowers was a Past Post Commander with the San Luis Valley American Legion.
He was at one time a Stewart in the Nazarene Church and was a past member of the Center Methodist Church.
Mr. Bowers also was a trades instructor at Colorado Mountain College and the Buena Vista Correctional Facility.
He loved hunting and fishing, and was a devoted husband and father.
He is survived by his sons, David (Cheryl) Bowers of Parachute and Michael (Cindy) Bowers of Salida; daughter, Lola Lori Bowers-Myers of Belgrade, Mont.; 15 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and son-in-law, Ronnie Bristow of Hawley, Texas.
He is also survived by Travis (Virginia) Seyfried of Monte Vista.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Dorothy "Darlene" Bowers; son, Virgil William Bowers; daughter, Connie Jean Bristow; siblings Bryan, John, Herbert, Mary and Esther.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. March 3, 2005 at United Methodist Church, Salida.
Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery.
Memorial contributions can be made to Chaffee County Sheriff's Patrol Search and Rescue, through Lewis and Glenn Funeral Home.
