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Melba Lois Bower Sr.

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Melba Lois Bower Sr. Veteran

Birth
Corsicana, Navarro County, Texas, USA
Death
28 Oct 2023 (aged 93)
Burial
Corsicana, Navarro County, Texas, USA GPS-Latitude: 32.1002, Longitude: -96.482975
Memorial ID
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Melba L. Bower, Sr. was born on December 28, 1929, in Corsicana, Texas. He passed from this life on October 28, 2023, at the age of 93. Melba was preceded in death by his wife, Eleanor, his parents,
Rexford and Leticia (Coker) Bower, his son, Melba L. (Butch) Bower, Jr, and his seven brothers, three sisters, four nephews, and one niece.

He is survived by his daughter, Rexanne (Bower) and husband Wade Thomas of Lindale, Texas. Survivors also include daughter-in-law, Terry Bower of Corsicana, four grandchildren: Kristy Johnson and husband Chris of Farmer's Branch, Cheryl Jennings and husband John of Rockport, Shelley Hill of Lubbock, and Gary Bower and wife Rebecca of Corsicana, seven great grandchildren, brother-in-law, Allen Green and wife Jean of Grand Junction, Colorado, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Melba was a lifelong member of the church of Christ where he served many years as a deacon
and later as an elder of the Westside and WestHill congregations. Melba and Eleanor worked
with the youth group at WestHill, cooking for them at Bandina Christian Camp and youth retreats.
Melba was also a lifelong resident of Corsicana and a 1946 graduate of Corsicana High School.
He was an active member of the Corsicana Band Parents Association working in the
concession stand at Tiger Field and driving the instrument truck for away football games. He
coached Little League baseball games at Bebee Field and was active in the YMCA Indian
Guides and Bowie Elementary School's Cub Scout Den.

Melba married the love of his life, Mary Eleanor Green on October 8, 1950. Two months later he
enlisted in the United States Air Force. He served as an airplane mechanic and instructor
specializing in radial engines on B-25 Mitchell aircraft at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita
Falls, Texas for four years. When his enlistment was up, Melba and Eleanor returned to
Corsicana where he began his career as a barber, eventually owning the B & D Barber Shop.
After his first retirement, Melba went back to work for Stewart Motor Company and later for the
Collin Street Bakery. He was recognized by the American Red Cross as a sixteen-gallon blood donor.

Funeral service will be Saturday, November 4, 2023, at 10:00am in the Chapel at Griffin - Roughton Funeral Home. Burial with Military Honors will be at Oakwood Cemetery.
Melba L. Bower, Sr. was born on December 28, 1929, in Corsicana, Texas. He passed from this life on October 28, 2023, at the age of 93. Melba was preceded in death by his wife, Eleanor, his parents,
Rexford and Leticia (Coker) Bower, his son, Melba L. (Butch) Bower, Jr, and his seven brothers, three sisters, four nephews, and one niece.

He is survived by his daughter, Rexanne (Bower) and husband Wade Thomas of Lindale, Texas. Survivors also include daughter-in-law, Terry Bower of Corsicana, four grandchildren: Kristy Johnson and husband Chris of Farmer's Branch, Cheryl Jennings and husband John of Rockport, Shelley Hill of Lubbock, and Gary Bower and wife Rebecca of Corsicana, seven great grandchildren, brother-in-law, Allen Green and wife Jean of Grand Junction, Colorado, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Melba was a lifelong member of the church of Christ where he served many years as a deacon
and later as an elder of the Westside and WestHill congregations. Melba and Eleanor worked
with the youth group at WestHill, cooking for them at Bandina Christian Camp and youth retreats.
Melba was also a lifelong resident of Corsicana and a 1946 graduate of Corsicana High School.
He was an active member of the Corsicana Band Parents Association working in the
concession stand at Tiger Field and driving the instrument truck for away football games. He
coached Little League baseball games at Bebee Field and was active in the YMCA Indian
Guides and Bowie Elementary School's Cub Scout Den.

Melba married the love of his life, Mary Eleanor Green on October 8, 1950. Two months later he
enlisted in the United States Air Force. He served as an airplane mechanic and instructor
specializing in radial engines on B-25 Mitchell aircraft at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita
Falls, Texas for four years. When his enlistment was up, Melba and Eleanor returned to
Corsicana where he began his career as a barber, eventually owning the B & D Barber Shop.
After his first retirement, Melba went back to work for Stewart Motor Company and later for the
Collin Street Bakery. He was recognized by the American Red Cross as a sixteen-gallon blood donor.

Funeral service will be Saturday, November 4, 2023, at 10:00am in the Chapel at Griffin - Roughton Funeral Home. Burial with Military Honors will be at Oakwood Cemetery.


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  • Created by: Betsy Bower Relative Child
  • Added: Nov 5, 2023
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/261072206/melba_lois-bower: accessed ), memorial page for Melba Lois Bower Sr. (29 Dec 1929–28 Oct 2023), Find a Grave Memorial ID 261072206, citing Oakwood Cemetery, Corsicana, Navarro County, Texas, USA; Maintained by Betsy Bower (contributor 51660812).