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Harry Bowles Obituary
Harry had a great love for his country, serving it well and proudly so during World War II, enlisting with honor after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Having seen and experience the destruction of war, he learned to speak Japanese stressing that if he could have communicated better with the culture, more lives would have been spared. He was a lifetime member of the VFW. Harry also loved playing his guitar plus playing practical jokes, as he was able to roll with the punches when he himself became the target. And on his 75th birthday, Harry was seen jumping a chain link fence, twice!
After the war Harry worked many odd jobs, one being on the Grand Coulee Dam in Spokane, Wash. This is where he met his future wife, Margie, thus the trek to Radford, Va., where Harry worked and retired from Hercules Army Ammunition Plant, followed by a little traveling on the road driving a semi and then finishing his working career as a surveyor for Hayes, Seay, Mattern and Mattern, Inc. in Roanoke. He didn't need a calculator for this job as his mind was extra sharp, calculating things in his head faster than he could input information. Harry was also intrigued by the solar system because to him, the sky was the limit.
Harry was a member of Blacksburg Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and came to know the Lord as his savior and with this promise of faith, knowing that God is in control, allows his family and friends to lift their hearts up in honor of our God. Jeremiah 29:1 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future...
The family wishes to say thanks to the staff on 1 East at the Virginia Veterans Care Center and to Gentle Shepard Hospice of Roanoke.
Funeral services will be conducted at noon on Saturday, December 5, 2009, in the Blacksburg Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 240 Watson Ave., NW, Blacksburg, Va., with the Rev. Gary McCoy officiating. Interment will follow in the Lebanon United Methodist Church Cemetery, Lynchburg, Va., where Full Military Honors will be led by American Legion Post #16. In honor of Harry and in lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to a Veteran's Hospital, Hospice or Alzheimer's Association of your choice and in doing so, you will pass it forward so others can benefit. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday at the Blacksburg Christian Church. Arrangements by McCoy Funeral Home, Blacksburg, Va.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Harry Bowles
Terry Arthur
December 4, 2009
I am so sorry about your loss. Although Harry has not been able to come to church since his illness, I still miss seeing his sweet smile and kind face. He was so proud of his service to his country, and we are all indebted to him for his sacrifice. He was truly of the Greatest Generation, and it was a pleasure to know him.
December 4, 2009
Harry will be sadly missed he was my sisters travel mate and
partner he was like family to us. sorry for your loss
Joe And Doris Franklin
Jo DeHart
December 4, 2009
Harry always liked to pick at me,and he
called me Mo all the time,so I just called him Larry! He loved to play his guitar,and many times the three of us would make some right nice music--he on his guitar,Wilma on her auto-harp and me on the piano-either at Wilmas'or
at my house.We had a lot of fun doing
that.After he had the stroke I would go over to Wilmas,and we would play along with him to help him learn his songs again.He had a notebook with pages after pages of songs and he knew the words to all of them!I miss that very much,and I will always remember how much fun we had. He was a dear.He taught me a ditty that I just loved and I still play it sometimes.
December 3, 2009
Harry was a kind, sentimental, sensitive and loving person. We had such fun with him "back in the day". He was kind to our children; bringing things to them to pique their interest and to stimulate their imagination. We will never forget him.
Our sincere condolences are sent to you, Wilma, and to his family.
Betsy & Joe Thomas
Joyce Ballinger
December 3, 2009
Wilma,
So sorry for the lose of your loved one. I know you did your best in so many ways. Seeing your support for Harry in his last few years that I was around to witness, was one that only a few of us wished we could have for our loved ones. I know he meant a lot to you and remembering the dances we had at the Care Center with you and Harry makes my heart melt for you. May God bless you and all his family members for the lose of him. Blessing to you all.
April Embry
December 3, 2009
Dear Uncle Harry,
I miss you so much! But i know that your in a better place and with no more problems now.I love you and miss you and always will! i remember when you and Willma would come over to our old house in Virginia and you would sit down beside ne and tech me how to play the guitar, that was fun! I miss you so much! I love you!
Love April Embry
Barbara Thomas
December 3, 2009
I am sorry for your loss... Friend of Norma
kimmie egan
December 3, 2009
marion,
Fran,JJ, And I, would like to send our love to you and your family. we love ya. love kimmie.
Norma Free
December 3, 2009
Through all the sadness and sorrow at this time, happy memories do thankfully, come into mind. You helped me when I was in the horrible car wreck and was unable to work, thank you. Your Mother had a rough time being a single Mom, and you associated my plight with her. I, NEVER open a jar of peanut butter without thinking of you. You had a way of scraping out the inside of the jar, making your Mother think it was full. You always got a big kick out of telling that. You helped build Grand Coulee Dam in Washington state. You are a history book, with all you have done and seen.
When you went away to war, you left your dress hat with Marge. She set it on her dresser. Our cat Fluffy slept in it while you were away. We all waited on pins and needles for a letter from you. The telegrams were deliverd on bicycles back then and when we saw a bike rider coming down the road we all panicked. That was how the MIA in action messages were delivered...or worse, death notices.
Harry, you were indeed a blessing to us, being a part of our family.
We all love you.
Norma, your little "Sis "
Beth Blevins
December 3, 2009
Wilma,
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Debbie Grindstaff
December 3, 2009
We are thinking of you and your family in your time of loss-Always know that we love and care for you. Blessings
December 3, 2009
MARIAN
I WAS SO SORRY TO HEAR OF THE DEATH OF YOUR FATHER. LOSING MY MOTHER AND FATHER WAS SO HARD.
BE ASSURED THAT PEOPLE ARE THINKING ABOUT YOU AND REMEMBER WE HAVE THE RESURRECTON HOPE. BOBBY HATCHER
Peggy Buckles
December 2, 2009
Dear Uncle Harry....how sad I am to learn of your passing...but I am sure mom and aunt Margie are so happy to see you. Mom always spoke so highly of you and so did grandma and grandpa. I was always so proud of you. To see you in your uniform when I was a child and knowing you were in the military, I thought you were a hero. I still do. I still have the picture of you carrying the flag in the same uniform on my mirror that was taken a few years ago as you marched in the Veteran's Day Parade still wearing your same uniform. You will always remain in my heart. My thoughts are with the family. Love to all
Rhonda Lester
December 2, 2009
Although I was really young I do remember Uncle Harry. I remember the fun me and my brothers, Michael & Danny, when we would visit swinging in the backyard if you got high enough you could see a football field over a hill, also going to the bowling ally first song I remember as a kid was a song that was played alot he would play it for me "Games People Play". My prayers go out to Dennis and Marion and the rest of the family. I know we all will miss him. God has him now and we have the memories.
God Bless
Rhonda
Jesse Shelton
December 2, 2009
My father died when I was three and the Bowles family moved next door to me when I was about 11 years old. Of course Dennis was my pal and Marian was still a little girl. Harry was the only father figure I ever had. I loved his war stories and his guitar playing and singing. In the later years after I joined the Air Force, I expecially felt closer to him as a brother in our nation's service. He made me laugh and I made him laugh. Harry was brilliant, wise, and loved his kids. He took several of us neighborhood boys on a 'spur of the moment' camping trip and we had a great time traveling around Virginia.
I loved Harry and will always miss him. God Bless you Dennis and Marian. Your beautiful mother and "John Wayne" dad Harry are together again in a wonderful place. We are praying for you in Kingsport.
Norma Free
December 2, 2009
I will never forget when you came into my ( our ) lives, Harry. You were on your way to Japan, and WW2 was very much underway.You met and fell in love with my sister, Margie.Lots of years have gone by since then, the whole family loved you way back then, and love you still.Though we lived miles apart we still were family, and friends. My children have always loved their Uncle Harry . You are in a better place now, and we will never forget you. God Bless you Marian, Dennis, and other family members.
Rest in peace Harry.
Love
Norma
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