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The greatest dad, friend, and golfer William M. Bowers (although lost in the rough for a while) finished his final hole on August 16, 2021. He was not alone. We were with him on his final putt and was greeted by those who finished before him.
Bill was born on November 15, 1940 to George and Helen Bowers. He joined the Marine Corp after graduating High School were he spent the majority of his enlistment as a sea going Marine. After his honorable discharge, he transitioned from living in the winter wonder land and moved to Florida and married Judy Tilley. He worked as a mechanic and spent the vast majority of his career at Sunset Chevrolet in Sarasota Florida.
For anyone who knew him, he was harsh, but pushed you to be better. He expected more of you. He has supported us, pushed us, and loved us through thick and thin. He was an avid golfer and he followed the PGA, LPGA, and the Senior tour. He also helped organize a weekly work golf group and played in multiple tournaments. He even played on golf’s holy ground, St Andrews in Scotland. He usually spent his evening either under the oak tree in front of the house or with his friends at the Eagles Club drinking Busch beer.
Bill left behind a lot of family! His sister, Marry Ellen Felker and her 4 children, Kimbery Moulton, Lori Madden, Teresa Felker, and Michael Felker. He had 3 daughters: Jamie and Mike Mitchell (Chad Sawyer, Ashlee Cammack, and Chantz Sawyer), Christine and Shawn Burke (Riley, Liam, and Rourke), and Ronda Knowlton (Megan MacDonald and Dillion Rafferty).
Cheers Daddy! Thanks for being more than a father, you were our daddy. The love we have for you has not ended. We will greet you with a beer on the 19th hole, but we will NOT be drinking Busch!
Semper Fidelis….
The Bowers family is being assisted by Georgia Cremation, 7500 Veterans Parkway, Suite A, Columbus, Georgia 31909, 706-577-0055. The family invites you to sharing a fond memory of Mr. Bowers below.
Sherrie Conant says
So many tears reading this, a beautiful summary of his life. I too had the pleasure of knowing him. He was a kind man with extraordinary values. I learned a lot from him. I’m very proud of the Burke family for looking out after him in the end. I know it must have meant the world to him. Rest In Peace Bill, and thank you for all you gave to help my mother’s children. Your kindness will never be forgotten.
Tom Kelly says
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Tom and Barbara
Jonathan Pruitt says
Growing up as a child Bill was my neighbor. I honestly have only fond memories of Bill . For instance every few summers Bill would give us his old mower and my dad would fix it up a bit and we used it for our neighborhood lawn business as my father wouldn’t let us tear up his lol. I also remember Bill always had a mini fridge full of good soda ( cream , rootbeer and all the greats . Well I guess it’s been around 30 years since those days but I remember Mr. Bill Bowers well and he was always a good guy to me R.I.P Bill.
Mary Ellen Felker says
Bill was my brother. I moved from Beloit,WI to Florida when I was 19. Bill spent one winter as an auto mechanic, in Beloit after the Marines, After that he too headed for Florida and our mom Helen soon followed. Bill loved Florida, he always thanked me for coming here. He was a hard worker, and was appreciated by Mr. Geyer, owner of Sunset Chevrolet for his 30 years of service. He lived for Sundays, when he and his buddies would play golf. I think they played every course in Sarasota and surrounding area several times. He came over most Saturday mornings for coffee and we would discuss the weeks happenings. I want to thank Chris and Shawn Burke for taking him home with them to Georgia when his health started to fail. They helped him through all the stages of dementia until it was time for assisted living. They were there for him until the end. I love you all very much.
By for now Bill, I love you and will probably see you soon (I was 88 this year). Your “SIS”.
Madelyn P says
Christine and Shawn did so much for Grandpa Bill. I remember every Saturday they go out to get lunch and drink “beer”. Anytime there was an emergency, they would drop everything to go take care of it regardless of what they had going on. They would always drop everything to make sure he was comfortable. R.I.P Bill.
Lori Madden says
I’m Bill’s niece and have many good memories of “Unc” including rides in his cool Chevy Impala, him taking me to LPGA matches when I was young to foster my interest in golf, family BBQ’s, always being available to me or my siblings when car repairs on our junkers were needed in high school and just knowing he was there for us after our father died suddenly while we were teenagers. Driving past his house always reminds me of how much he enjoyed sitting under that oak tree with a beer in his hand at the end of a day. Unc was a good guy and will be missed.
Todd Knowlton says
I have the fondest memories of Bill. He was such a kind and generous man always treating the whole family to dinner at the original Sarasota oyster bar and after its closing at Philippi Creek oyster bar. I always cherished having a couple beers in front of his house and talking for hour’s about sports, family and everything good , bad and crazy in life. Bill was a great man and everyone who knew him will miss him. RIP Bill