Frank Owen Bower's Obituary
Frank was born on January 27, 1929 in Kingsley Michigan, the son of Frank Newton and Lena (Winchcomb) Bower. He was raised in Kingsley until his family moved to Lincoln Park near Detroit where he graduated from Lincoln Park Public Schools Class of 1948. Frank was the captain of the Lincoln Park Track Team. Ever the hard worker, Frank had an impressive paper route that he managed as well as worked as a stevedore loading metal rolls on trucks through high school. Upon graduation, Frank received certification from a butcher school in Toledo, Ohio. He then worked as a butcher for A&P Supermarket.
On March 16th 1957, Frank married Ethelyn "Lynn" Esther Black at the Van Born Road Wesleyan Methodist Church in Taylor Center MI. Frank and Lynn were married for 53 years.
Frank obtained his Associates Degree from Henry Ford Community College and worked as an Instrument Technician for Detroit Edison for over 30 years until his retirement in 1995. Frank helped build the Enrico-Ferme Nuclear Power Plant.
Over his impressive life time, Frank had numerous hobbies and interests. He was a member of the National Ski Patrol and a Reserve Officer for the Wyandotte Police Department. Frank was proud to be a 32nd Degree Mason. He enjoyed hunting, camping, skiing, biking, swimming, running, golfing, playing Cribbage and rebuilding steam engines (Buckley Steam Show). Frank also enjoyed being a part of both Revolutionary and Civil War reenactments at Greenfield Village, Yorktown and Williamsburg, VA. Frank played the Harmonica and with Lynn on Dulcimer they were members of the Original Dulcimer Players Club and attended the Dulcimer festival in Evart, MI for over 25 years. Frank and Lynn founded the Silver Strings Dulcimer Club in the metro Detroit area. After Lynn passed in 2010 Frank moving to Six Lakes and met Connie Ervin who would become his fiancé. Connie and Frank attended Blanchard Wesleyan Church.
Frank will be greatly missed by fiancé Connie Ervin; four children Richard (Monica) Bower of Redford, MI, JoAnn (Tim) Watkins of Rembert, SC, Laura (Larry) Tolbert of Beach Grove, IN, Frank D. (Rachel) Bower of Morley, MI; twelve grandchildren Amanda and Alyssa Bower, Jennifer (Thomas) Infinger, Naomi (Brian) Eyers, Tim (Christy) Watkins, Katie (Jamie) Watkins, Larry Jr. (Melissa) Tolbert, Roger (Jennifer) Tolbert, Thomas "TJ" (Sarah) Tolbert, Donald (Becky) Tolbert, Rhiannon and Saylor Bower; six great grandchildren Owen, Addison and Sarah Infinger, Taylor, Riley and Amber Eyers; one sister Beverly Ferguson of Okemos; one brother Mack Bower of New Castle, Ontario, Canada; one sister-in-law Kaye Bower of Gibraltar; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Frank was preceded in death by his wife Ethelyn "Lynn" Bower in 2010; his parents Frank and Lena Bower; five siblings Geraldine (Homer) Ely, Jack (Irma) Bower, Ernie Bower, Frederick Bower and Lenna Beth Bower; brother-in-law George Ferguson; and sister-in-law Jean Bower.
A celebration of Frank's life will be held on Thursday April 2, 2015 at 1:00 P.M. with visitation one hour before the service at the Blanchard Wesleyan Church with Pastors Al and Ruth Peterson Officiating. Memorial Contributions in Frank's memory may be made payable to Blanchard Wesleyan Church.
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