Robert Fred Bowers, age 84, died Monday, August 6, 2012 at Laughlin Memorial Hospital after a very brief illness. He was a loving husband of 68 years, and loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and brother. Survivors include wife Mildred Jones Bowers of Baileyton, daughters and sons-in-law Brenda and Norman Clinard of Knoxville, and Frieda and Michael Harmon of Johnson City; granddaughters Michelle and husband Joseph Baldwin of Knoxville, Ashley Head of Johnson City, and Rachel and husband Jacob Higginbotham of Jonesborough; great-grandchildren Baylee Head of Johnson City, Clayton Robert and Susanne Baldwin of Knoxville, and...
Robert Fred Bowers, age 84, died Monday, August 6, 2012 at Laughlin Memorial Hospital after a very brief illness. He was a loving husband of 68 years, and loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and brother. Survivors include wife Mildred Jones Bowers of Baileyton, daughters and sons-in-law Brenda and Norman Clinard of Knoxville, and Frieda and Michael Harmon of Johnson City; granddaughters Michelle and husband Joseph Baldwin of Knoxville, Ashley Head of Johnson City, and Rachel and husband Jacob Higginbotham of Jonesborough; great-grandchildren Baylee Head of Johnson City, Clayton Robert and Susanne Baldwin of Knoxville, and Adalynn and Lillian Higginbotham of Jonesborough. He is also survived by sister Edna Smith and brother Bobby Bowers of Greeneville, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents Robert Lester and Ada Blanche Hutton Bowers of Greeneville and sister Dorothea Weems of Mosheim.
Fred retired from Pet Milk after 48 years of service. Fred and wife Mildred started "Teen Town" along with 3 other couples. Fred and Mildred were honored by Mayor W.T. Daniels for their many years of dedication and involvement in the youth and young adults of Greeneville and Greene County. Fred was also known to umpire a few ballgames. He helped found Pet Milk Credit Union, which is now Consumer Credit Union.
Fred was an avid camper who travelled all over the continental U.S. with his family, but always called Greeneville home. He loved to fish, play cards, watch baseball, and whittle. He was always active in his grandchildren's and great-grandchildren's lives, as they were the light of his.
Fred was truly loved and admired by everyone who came in contact with him. He will forever be with us and in our hearts.
"Shoot the moon!"
His pallbearers will be Norman Clinard, Michael Harmon, Joseph Baldwin, Jacob Higginbotham, J.C. Jones, and James Strange.
His honorary pallbearers will be Raymond Brown, Glenn Watts, A.J. Bible, Llewellyn Jones, Clyde Hamm, and Walter Windley.
The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Kiser-Rose Hill Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held at 8:00 p.m. Thursday in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Roger Crim officiating. The committal service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday at GreeneLawn Memory Gardens. Family and friends are asked to meet at the funeral home by 9:15 a.m. Friday to go in procession to the cemetery.