Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
FUNERAL HOME
Jesse Bowers Obituary
Jesse G. Bowers Jr., 78, of Butler passed away Monday at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh.
Born in Apollo, May 8, 1933, he was the son of the late Jesse G. and Dorothy Hildebrand Bowers Sr.
He received his bachelor's degree from Slippery Rock University and obtained his master's degree in educational leadership from Westminster College. He did postgraduate work in American and English literature and rhetoric at Indiana (Pa.) University and Slippery Rock University.
He taught at the Slippery Rock Lab School for seven years, and he taught English at Knoch High School for 31 years. Also at Knoch, he taught gifted education and drivers education, and he served as senior class adviser and an assistant football coach. In addition, he taught English at night school at Butler County Community College.
He served as a Penn Township supervisor for 20 years, and he was founder and president of the Veterans Association of Penn Township. He was a former chairman of the State Township Supervisors, and he was a former chairman of the Community Action Board of Butler County.
He was a member of the St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, where he was a lector and altar server.
He also was a veteran of the U.S. Navy.
He is survived by his wife, Patricia A. Walsh Bowers, to whom he was married for 52 years; one son, James E. Bowers and his wife, Doreen, of Butler; three daughters, Kate Bowers, of Cranberry Township, Sue B. Leahy and her husband, Tom, of Franklin Park and Tricia B. Neal and her husband, Jeffrey, of Lake Worth, Fla.; one brother, Edward Bowers, of Apollo; two sisters, Mary Bowers of Apollo and Martha Jane Matheny of Cape Coral, Fla.; and five grandchildren, Jack Leahy, Jessica Leahy, Mike Leahy, Stefanie Bowers and Max Bowers.
He was preceded in death by one sister.
BOWERS - Friends of Jesse G. Bowers Jr., who died Monday, June 20, 2011, will be received in the Martin Funeral Home, 429 Center Ave., Butler, Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at St. Paul Roman Catholic Church Friday at 10 a.m. Burial will take place in Butler County Memorial Park.
Members of the St. Paul Catholic Women and Christian Mothers will meet at the church Friday at 9:35 a.m. to recite the rosary.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to the donor's favorite charity.
Information also is available at www.martinfh.net.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Jesse Bowers
June 30, 2011
God Bless you and your family.You have our deepest sympathy.
Ed & Karen Dufford
Dick Arthur
June 30, 2011
Pat and "kids",
I am so sorry for your loss. Jesse was a great teacher, coach, driving instructor and neighbor.
Our journeys follow the paths built by the great who come before us - Jesse was such a builder.
Michele Leech Campbell
June 28, 2011
Mrs Bowers and family
I had the honor of knowing all of you through St Paul's Church and Blazing Star. Mr. Bowers was a wonderful man and will be deeply missed. My thoughts are with you and may God give you comfort.
Karen Dufford Clifford
June 27, 2011
He was a delight and an inspiration. He was a favorite of all that knew him. A true man among men. My deepest condolences.
Jean Heard
June 26, 2011
Dear Bowers Family, I extend my deepest sympathy. Jesse was one of a kind man who had great humor but was still sensitive. He was loved by his students and his co-workers as well.
Carl E. Glover
June 24, 2011
My thoughts and prayers are with you during this time of your loss. Class of 1960
Debra Kuminkoski
June 24, 2011
Deepest sympathy to the Bowers family. Jesse was one of my favorite teachers at Knoch, I looked forward to his class. One of my favorite childhood memories is of the times I spent with the Bowers family in the summer at their home with all the kids. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
June 23, 2011
I remember him with all of the love that he gave to each of the students he met. His smile will live forever in my heart and the twinkle in his eye as he talked with you. Till we meet again.
Peggy (Wagle) Seth, Longmont, CO
Lynne Dufford Maloney
June 23, 2011
My deepest sympathies to the Bowers family. Mr. Bowers tried his best to teach me how to drive--what fun that was. His laughter brought me happiness. He and his family are in my prayers.
Linda (Sis) Stewart (Clever)
June 23, 2011
I remember Jesse from my high school days in Apollo. He was such a big football star in our town. I was friends with his younger brother, Eddie. When I would go to Eddie's house, Jesse was always nice to the younger kids that where around. My heartfelt sympathies go out to his family and loved ones.
Joyce Wagner Boos
June 23, 2011
Bowers Family, Mr. Bowers was an inspiration! To this day "Macbeth" is my favorite because of his 10th grade English class. He was a GREAT teacher! He will be in my prayers and forever in my thoughts.
Suzanne Hoffman-Meyer
June 23, 2011
I owe my love of the classics and my poise behind the wheel to Mr. Bowers. Such a kind and witty man who always made learning fun. As a friend of the family, as well, I also had the honor of knowing Mr. Bowers as a dad. I have so many good memories of Christmas caroling at the Bowers. Love and best wishes to each of you during this difficult time.
Vincent Maggio
June 22, 2011
Bowers Family, Please accept our sympathies for your loss. I recall clearly class with Jesse in the Spring of 1978. He had an infectious love of the classics which I believe he passed onto many of his students. He will be missed. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
Tom & Cindy Ritchey
June 22, 2011
Like so many others, I enjoyed and learned from Mr. Bowers! He always had a special "word" to help us in our vocab. I remember "lugubrious" which is ironic, for he never was! I can still see him saying that word ...enunciating with his lower teeth almost "growling" ... he loved it! Like a bulldog.
Allow me to offer a few "words" that will always be with me when I fondly remember Jesse B. Fun! He really did make learning enjoyable. Enthusiastic! He was almost always "on" in class. Tough! None, not even the "toughs" messed with this man's man. Fair! Compassionate! Serious! He took his work seriously, but not himself. Creative! He'd surprise us with his ideas. Sensitive! No sissy, but always cared deeply about what was going on with others. Professional! He was always the consummate teacher, leader, coach about his school, fellow teachers, students, teams. Loyal! He was always there for you, for his team. Family-man! He loved telling us about his kids. Friend! He always was genuinely interested in others. Character! Both a "character" and a great man OF character. Congruent!He was who he appeared to be. In sum ... a really good man! Might that be said of all of us when our days on this earth are done.
And lastly, I am so pleased to know he was a man of genuine faith.
Here's to you, Jesse Bowers. May we meet again. And to his family, know I join you in both celebration and sympathy of a life lived well and fully who will be missed. He leaves a big void and a world better for his having been among us. May we meet up yonder.
June 22, 2011
To the Bowers family,
Mr. Bowers was such an engaging and interesting teacher. I remember his Reading for Enrichment class fondly. I would also see him at Little League games as Tank and my brother were Tigers together. He was very nice man who made the world a better place.
Michele Sharlow Capps & family (Pinellas Park, FL & Butler, PA)
Chuck and Nancy Kaczmarek, Jr
June 22, 2011
To the Bowers family, you have our deepest sympathy. Chuck has so many great memories of Mr. Bowers at Knoch High. Unfortunately we are unable to travel up home for the funeral. You are all in our thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time.
June 22, 2011
Doreen,
I'm so sorry for your loss. You and your family have my sincere sympathy. Thinking of you,
Tammy (Montgomery) Osborne
Kelly Flinn-Huselton
June 22, 2011
Mr. Bowers was a favorite teacher of mine at Knoch High School. His genuine personality and ability to bring humor into the classroom was a few of his many attributes. The Bowers family are in my thoughts and prayers.
GLORIA RODGERS
June 22, 2011
DEAR BOWERS FAMILY ,
I HAD MR BOWERS , FOR ENGLISH . I LOVED HEARING HIS STORIES & WATCHING HIM SMILE. HE MADE , ME WANT TO GET TO HIS CLASS , BECAUSE OF HOW NICE HE WAS TO US .
ALSO WHEN I HAD STUDY HALL , HE WOULD CALL MY NAME . HE ASKED ME IF I WANTED TO RIDE ALONG WITH HE & HIS FEMAL STUDENT . I COULD NOT DRIVE , BUT I KNEW ALL THE RULES , BEFORE I DID , THANK YOU ALL
MR BOWERS NOW IS IN HEAVEN . HE OUT OF ANY PAIN , ALSO HE GOT TO BE WITH MY DAD , BUCK RODGERS . HE & DAD WAS SWELL FRIENDS
REMEBER HIM AS THAT VETERAN , HAPPY GO LUCKY . I KNOW I WILL , BECAUSE I SEEN HIM PARADES , NOW HE & DAD HAVE TO DO THE PARADE IN HEAVEN .
LOVE GLORIA RODGERS
Joe Rovetto
June 22, 2011
Pat and family,
Please accept our regrets for your loss. Jesse was a wonderful friend. I enjoyed his many thoughtful talks on the way to school when I did my student reaching at Knoch and when he would come by Ann's mom and dad's. He will be sadly missed, but his mark will last for ever on the world.
Ann (Habenicht) and Joe Rovetto
Bob Brennan
June 22, 2011
Mr. Bowers took me in during my collegiate years and treated me like a son. That is something I will never forget, just like his firm hand and great sense of humor. I look forward to crossing paths with him again.
Richard Hoffman
June 22, 2011
Mr. Bowers was such a nice person and inspirational teacher, with a truly wonderful sense of humor. He and the Bowers family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Linda Evans
June 22, 2011
Jesse Bowers was a warm and gracious person, as well as, good father and husband. Our condolences to his family. He will be missed. Tom and Linda Evans
Betty Lou (Francis) Ivell
June 22, 2011
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family, (Miss Walsh). I was one of your students many years ago at SRAHS.
Linda Haller Hemmes
June 22, 2011
I remember Mr. Bowers with fondness - he was one of my teachers at Knoch. He had a quick smile and a fun sense of humor that has not been forgotten over the past 44 years. Rest in peace, good sir - rest in peace
M R
June 22, 2011
I am very sorry for the loss of your dear loved one. Please be comforted by the wonderful words at Isaih 25:8 and may it help you endure this hard time.
pm
June 22, 2011
My condolences to the family of Jessie Bowers Jr. May the God of comfort be with you at this time of sorrow Isaiah 61:2
Showing 1 - 27 of 27 results
Make a Donation
in Jesse Bowers's name
Memorial Events
for Jesse Bowers
How to support Jesse's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read more
The Five Stages of Grief
They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read moreWays to honor Jesse Bowers's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
