Carl J. W. Bowers

Carl J. W. Bowers, 85, loving father, grandfather and great-grand father, died Friday, January 13, 2006, in Phoenix. Carl was born March 29, 1920, in Coalgate, Oklahoma to Lee and Myrtle Bowers. He and his mother moved to the Odessa, Texas, area when he was about five years old. He graduated from Odessa High School where he was the Drum Major for the band and played basketball. He attended Texas School of Mines (later known as UTEP) on a band scholarship and in 1938, he married his high school sweetheart, Mary Laura Webb of Odessa, who predeceased him in 1977. After working at Henderson Drug Store in Odessa, Texas, and as an iron worker building oil refineries during WWII, he settled in Phoenix, Arizona in 1945 where he helped build the old Alcoa Aluminum plant. His interest in automobiles led him to a partnership operating the parking garage for the Valley National Bank and Adams Hotel and into automobile sales. He then established Carl's Car Co. at 16th Street and Van Buren in Phoenix, which he owned and operated for the next 35 years. During his life he was instrumental in the establishment and operations of the Mountain View Church of Christ on Campbell Ave in Phoenix. His parents, and brother Vernon Lee Bowers preceded Carl in death, as did his Dad, Theodius Allen "T.A." Tisseur, whom he loved . Carl is survived by his daughter, Alicia (Josh) Cline of Phoenix; his sons Ewell (Lori) Bowers of San Antonio, TX and Carl A. (Terrie) Bowers of Lewisville, TX; also surviving are 13 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Services are entrusted to Tempe Mortuary. Graveside services will be conducted Friday, January 20th at 11:00 a.m. at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Odessa, Texas.