Barbara J Bowers

Barbara (Brunner) Bowers passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of Saturday, November 17, 2025, at the age of 86. She was a strong woman and as she got older, she had several health-related setbacks. Though she battled her way through three previous falls with broken bones, and each time she bounced back. Ultimately the cause of her death was a cerebral hemorrhage from a stroke.
Barbara was the eldest of four daughters to Robert & Irene Brunner, born in Washington, DC on October 18, 1938. As a young girl, the family moved back to the family farm and eventually into the city of Ft. Wayne, IN where she graduated from Central Catholic High School.
Barbara married Leonard Bowers on October 25, 1958, and they were able to celebrate their 66th Anniversary on October 25, 2024 – just a few weeks before her death. Together they were blessed with 3 children, Jeff, Michelle and Scott. The family moved from New Haven, IN to Stuart in 1973.
She had a long and varied career in business, focusing on bookkeeping, accounting and sales. She started in Advertising Sales with Westinghouse and WOWO-AM radio station in Ft. Wayne. Upon moving to Stuart, she worked at Owens Groves, Martin County Oil and then with Young Oil Co. in Palm City. Her last position was a blessing to her family as she spent the rest of her career handling the finances and bookkeeping for her husband and two sons who were all independent contractors. She imparted a lot of her business acumen to her son Jeff's business (Masterpiece Builders) and deserves the credit for establishing a firm financial footing in the early years of that business.
Upon retirement, she and Leonard did a lot of traveling. They took many cruises and traveled with their brothers and sisters to destinations all over the US, Europe, Alaska and many of the Caribbean Islands. Barbara was an avid reader and was always willing to participate in discussions on science, history and politics!! She had an amazing "green thumb" and for many years tended to her plants and garden, raising tomatoes and other vegetables that she willingly shared with others.
Barbara loved animals, perhaps instilled from her time on the farm as a little girl. From family dogs, cats, a couple of birds – right down to the squirrels around her home. She loved to feed them peanuts and they got so tame with her that when she came out on the porch and shook the jar of peanuts, they would come running to be fed. Several of them almost ate out of her hand!
She will truly be missed by all those who know her. From her surviving family members to many folks she got to know in the business community. It is truly a testament to her that for many years after her retirement there are still many who ask "How's Barbara doing? Tell her I said hello"!
Barbara was predeceased by her parents Robert & Irene Brunner, her sisters Marilyn Bienduga and Jackie Bowers and her daughter, Michelle Tarascio.
She is survived by her husband Leonard Bowers, her sons Jeff (Lisa) Bowers and Scott Bowers, her five grandchildren - Amanda Bowers Sowell (Stephen), JB Bowers (Sarah), Steve Bowers, Joe Tarascio and Nicole Tarascio Perry (Josh) - and six great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Candy Trumbull, a niece and three nephews.
A Christian Funeral Service will be held on Friday, January 31, 2025, at 11:00 AM at Forest Hills Funeral Home – Palm City Chapel. (2001 SW Murphy Rd, Palm City, FL 34990).
The family would like to thank the nurses and caregivers at the Treasure Coast Hospice House in Stuart for the dignified and loving care they gave Barbara in her last days and hours.
Donations may be made in memory at www.treasurehealth.org.