William Bowers Obituary

William Bowers MANNING, SC - Loved and admired by all who knew him, William V. "Billy" Bowers Jr., 93, husband of Joyce Newman Bowers, passed away on Monday, March 5, 2012, at Clarendon Memorial Hospital. Affectionately known as "Dobby" to his family and "Daddy Bill" to his friends, his steadfast presence will be missed by all. Born April 1, 1918, in Varnville, he was the son of the late William V. Bowers Sr. and the late Sally Dowling Bowers. He was a member of Manning United Methodist Church. He retired from the Department of Transportation as a resident maintenance engineer in 1980. He was a member of St. Peter's Lodge #54 AFM, the York Rite Bodies, Omar Temple and the Royal Order of Jesters. He was a WW II and Korean War US Air Force Veteran. He received the EAMET Service Medal, Air Medal and four clusters. He served on the Varnville Area Housing Corporation Board from 1981 - 1990, the Board of Directors of Hampton General Hospital, President of the Rotary Club of Hampton from 1983 - 1984, member of the Varnville Town Council from 1981 - 1983 and the Hampton County Council from 1983 - 1986 and he was president of the Santee Shrine Club. He is survived by his wife of Manning; a son, Frank Newman and wife Cindy of Columbia; two grandsons, Sheldon Newman of Columbia and Ed Johnson and wife Laura of Anchorage, AK; a granddaughter, Allie Newman of Columbia; and four great grandchildren, Lyle, Guy, Daveed and Jessica Johnson, all of Anchorage, AK. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Elizabeth Bowers; a son, E.E. "Bitsy" Johnson; and sisters, Elise B. Warr, Mary Sue Barker and Edith B. Haigler. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 8, 2012, at Stephens Funeral Home with Rev. Dr. Reginald Thackston and Rev. Billy Griffith officiating. Burial will be at 3 p.m. in Varnville Cemetery in Varnville, SC. Pallbearers will be Artie Felder, Lannes Prothro, Dale Harkins, Bill Fenters, Carey Shealy and Tom Morris. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Thursday at Stephens Funeral Home and other times at the residence, 1363 Caroustie Drive, Manning. The family would like to give a special thanks to Bee Be Coker and Amedisys Hospice and Artie Felder and his wife Bev for all of their love and care. Memorials may be made to Omar Temple Crippled Children's Fund, P.O. Box 21028, Charleston, SC 29143 or to Manning United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 68, Manning, SC 29102. Stephens Funeral Home & Crematory, 304 N. Church St., Manning, is in charge of arrangements, (803) 435-2179. www.stephensfuneralhome.org Visit our guestbook at www.postandcourier.com/ deaths