Bowser

Thomas H. Bowser, 87, of East Brady died Saturday at the Sugar Creek Rest in Sugarcreek Township, Armstrong County.

Born Sept. 17, 1923, in Bradys Bend, he was the son of Phillip D. and Edith A. (Ritchey) Bowser.

He was married to Maxine L. (Haye) Bowser on Sept. 17, 1946, at the Presbyterian Church in East Brady by the Rev. Harold Taylor.

During World War II, he was a gunner's mate third class in the U.S. Navy on the USS Willard Johnson merchant ship. He received the European and Middle East medals, the Asian-Pacific Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Lame Duck Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and was honored with the World War II Veterans 60th Anniversary Medallion medal, which he was very proud to receive.

Mr. Bowser was a general contractor in Ambridge, worked at Rex Hide in East Brady, at Michigan Limestone in Bradys Bend for 11 years, and as a lab technician at Witco Chemical in Karns City for 31 years until his retirement in 1987.

He was a 1942 graduate of East Brady High School.

He enjoyed hunting, reading Western books and country music, and he loved dancing. He collected stamps and coins and enjoyed spending time with his family and all his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He was a past president of the East Brady PTA, the past vice president of the East Brady Borough Council, a volunteer driver for the East Brady Ambulance, a Boy Scout leader and a co-manager for Little League Baseball. He belonged to the Clarion County Historical Society and the Bradys Bend Historical Society. He also enjoyed golf and belonged to the Hiland Golf Club.

He was a member of the American Legion Post 488 in Bradys Bend, where he was a member of the Legion Firing Squad, and he was a member of the VFW 7132 Club in Rimersburg.

He was a Protestant.

Surviving are his wife, Maxine L. Bowser of East Brady; two sons, Thomas R. Bowser of Hermitage and Frederick Keith Bowser and his wife, Sandy, of East Brady; a daughter, Dana L. Craig and her husband, Richard, of East Brady; and a sister, Rose Hillwig of East Brady. Also surviving are 11 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Phillip D. Bowser, and a sister, Joyce Shepard.

<B>BOWSER </B>— There will be no public services for Thomas H. Bowser, who died Saturday, April 9, 2011. A committal service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 16, in the Bradys Bend Cemetery with the Rev. Jack Moriarty of the First Presbyterian Church, East Brady, officiating. Burial will be in the Bradys Bend Cemetery, Bradys Bend Township, Armstrong County. Military honors will be conducted at the cemetery by the Bradys Bend American Legion Post 488.Memorials may be made to the Bradys Bend Historical Society, P.O. Box 451, East Brady, PA 16028Arrangements are under the care of <B>Buechele Funeral Home</B>, East Brady.