John Wesley Bowers

John Wesley Bowers, 78, of Erie, PA, passed away on September 5, 2025. He was born in Lima, Ohio on January 10, 1947, to Ray Thomas and Mabel Louise (Newlove) Bowers.

On August 10, 1968, John married the love of his life, Sue Ellen (Lhamon) Bowers, at High Street United Methodist in Lima, Ohio. Together they raised three children: Matthew, Sarah, and Micah.

John was a 1965 graduate of Lima Senior High School and was honored to attend his 60th high school reunion this year. He studied business in college and went on to attend Fort Wayne Bible College and Rhema Bible Training Center.

His life verse was John 1:6 – "There was a man sent from God, his name was John."

After Bible college, John became a pastor and then a missionary to missionaries, encouraging, restoring, and preventing burnout in those serving Jesus. In 1985, John and Sue were called to Haiti where they ran a school for missionary children and founded a church, which became part of the Foursquare denomination when they returned to Lima, Ohio. In 1992, John and Sue moved their family to Erie, PA, where he pastored Grace Fellowship International Church until the present. John was the founder and president of Good News International, served on the Board of the Women's Care Center for several years, and was a Board Member of Jubilant Remnant. He had been the regional director of Christian International for several years. He also helped counsel, advise, and fundraise for A Heart for the Nations, a ministry in Baitoa, Dominican Republic which was dear to his heart.

John had many passions. He enjoyed motorcycle riding, especially with his son, Matt; was an avid Erie Seawolves fan; a devoted Ohio State Buckeyes supporter; and a loyal Pittsburgh Steelers fan. He loved family time, playing games such as Hand & Foot and Perquackey, and was known as a true "neighborhood watch person." John was also the author of the audiobook, Faith Comes By Hearing.

He was there for family and friends during the joys and challenges of life. He was there whenever someone needed help, he was there to celebrate the victories, he was there through rejoicing and through grief. He was there for his grandchildren and delighted in seeing them grow to be kind, intelligent, responsible and hardworking people. He was there to offer encouragement and edification.

He was there for a lot of people, popping in, driving over, texting, encouraging, offering words of wisdom and prayers of faith. Above all, John will be remembered for his steadfast faith, his devotion to his family, and his unwavering dedication to spreading the Gospel around the world.

He always brought lively stories and a warm feeling to any place he entered. He traveled the world doing what he loved, ministering, and showing love to all those paths he crossed. He met thousands and thousands of people, bought some people's freedom from slavery, and only just returned from ministering in Ghana less than two weeks ago. He lived a life of service and didn't take a moment of rest from it. He fully lived and loved the life he had been given.

John was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Kenneth Ray Bowers; his sisters, Sharon Sue Roder and Carol Louise Tolson, siblings-in-law; Richard Lhamon and Beverly Lhamon, Curtis Lhamon and Dale Burden.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Sue Ellen Bowers; his children, Matthew Ray (Belinda) Bowers, Sarah Michelle (John) Perino, and Micah Joel (Holly) Bowers. He also leaves behind his grandchildren, Katherine Abigail Bowers, Josiah Moses Perino, Isaac Conor Bowers, Eli Owen Bowers, Ethan Ray Bowers, Nathan Daniel Perino, Noah Jamin Perino, and Naomi Sarah Perino, all of whom he was incredibly proud of and delighted in.

Also surviving are his sisters-in-law, Suzanne Louise Bowers and Bernice Eileen Burden; nieces and nephews, Deborah Goforth, Elizabeth Saunders, Serena Hazelet, Marlene Nichols, Todd Lhamon, Terry Burden, Kevin Burden, Debra Hovest, Brian Burden, Melissa Barnes, Gary "Tyke" Lhamon, and Alecia Flahiff and many great nieces and nephews.

Friends may call on Friday, September 19th at Kloecker Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc. 2502 Sassafras St. Erie, PA 16502 from 3pm until 7pm and are invited on Saturday to Erie First Assembly 8150 Oliver Rd. Erie, PA 16509 from 10am until the time of the funeral service at 11am.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to A Heart For the Nations, P.O. Box 10579 Erie, PA 16514 or Aheartforthenations.org