Cora M. Bowers

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

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AKRON - Cora M. Bowers, 91, of 121 Marcus Drive, Akron, and formerly of Athens, died at 1:30 p.m. July 1, 2009, in Kosciusko Community Hospital, Warsaw.

She was born Jan. 17, 1918, in Kosciusko County, to John and Vida Fields Fretz. On Jan. 17, 1936, in Tippecanoe, she married Raymond D. Bowers, who died Dec. 10, 1997.

She lived in Athens for more than 50 years. She was a homemaker and retired as assistant manager at Blumenthal's Women's Apparel after 30 years. She was valedictorian of the 1935 Tippecanoe High School class. She was a member of Athens United Methodist Church. She was a member of the Service Guild of the Akron Church of God. She always attended the Akron Senior Site where she enjoyed fellowship and games. She loved music and played seven different instruments. In her early years, she played in a dance band. Some of her hobbies were teaching children to bake, sewing clothes for several generations of her family, planting flowers and gardening and cooking meals for others. She always loved and enjoyed her family.

Surviving are two daughters, Jean (and spouse Robert R.) Gates, Austin, Texas, and Harriet Swartz (and spouse Skip Swick), Athens; a son, Michael R. (and spouse Ruby) Bowers, Athens; four grandchildren: Robert Gates Jr., Houston; Sondra Jackson, Peru; Crissy Mills, Akron; and Ryan Bowers, Santa Rosa, Calif.; nine great-grandchildren: Donna, Robert, Misty, Nathan, Amy, Julia, Kennedy, Payton and Sydney; and two sisters, Virginia (and spouse Verl) Hoagland, North Manchester, and Alice Swager, Fremont. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Wilford and Ralph Fretz; a sister, Edna Abbott; and a son-in-law, Larry Swartz.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Hartzler Funeral Home, 305 W. Rochester St., Akron, with Pastor Terry Marker officiating. Burial will be in Athens Cemetery.

Calling is from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

*****

Memorials to the Athens United Methodist Church.

Condolences may be sent to www.hartzlerfuneralservices.com[[In-content Ad]]

AKRON - Cora M. Bowers, 91, of 121 Marcus Drive, Akron, and formerly of Athens, died at 1:30 p.m. July 1, 2009, in Kosciusko Community Hospital, Warsaw.

She was born Jan. 17, 1918, in Kosciusko County, to John and Vida Fields Fretz. On Jan. 17, 1936, in Tippecanoe, she married Raymond D. Bowers, who died Dec. 10, 1997.

She lived in Athens for more than 50 years. She was a homemaker and retired as assistant manager at Blumenthal's Women's Apparel after 30 years. She was valedictorian of the 1935 Tippecanoe High School class. She was a member of Athens United Methodist Church. She was a member of the Service Guild of the Akron Church of God. She always attended the Akron Senior Site where she enjoyed fellowship and games. She loved music and played seven different instruments. In her early years, she played in a dance band. Some of her hobbies were teaching children to bake, sewing clothes for several generations of her family, planting flowers and gardening and cooking meals for others. She always loved and enjoyed her family.

Surviving are two daughters, Jean (and spouse Robert R.) Gates, Austin, Texas, and Harriet Swartz (and spouse Skip Swick), Athens; a son, Michael R. (and spouse Ruby) Bowers, Athens; four grandchildren: Robert Gates Jr., Houston; Sondra Jackson, Peru; Crissy Mills, Akron; and Ryan Bowers, Santa Rosa, Calif.; nine great-grandchildren: Donna, Robert, Misty, Nathan, Amy, Julia, Kennedy, Payton and Sydney; and two sisters, Virginia (and spouse Verl) Hoagland, North Manchester, and Alice Swager, Fremont. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Wilford and Ralph Fretz; a sister, Edna Abbott; and a son-in-law, Larry Swartz.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Hartzler Funeral Home, 305 W. Rochester St., Akron, with Pastor Terry Marker officiating. Burial will be in Athens Cemetery.

Calling is from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

*****

Memorials to the Athens United Methodist Church.

Condolences may be sent to www.hartzlerfuneralservices.com[[In-content Ad]]
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