James Bower

Milledgeville, Ga. - James Augustus Bower, 89, entered into rest on Saturday, March 15, 2008. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, March 20, at Williams Funeral Home in Milledgeville, Ga., with Rev. Jerry Bradley officiating. Burial will be in the Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Milledgeville. Mr. Bower was born in Quitman, Ga., to Cecil Emory Bower and Hattie Squires Bower. He enlisted in the U. S. Army in January, 1941, was commissioned an Infantry 2nd Lieutenant in July, 1942, and volunteered for Waco CG-4A Combat Glider Pilot training. He received his Glider wings in April, 1943 in Stuttgart, Ar. and was commissioned as 1st Lieutenant. He served in England and France in 1944 and flew re-supply missions into Germany as a C-47 co-pilot. He separated from the Army Air Corps in November, 1945. Mr. Bower married Maureen Ellis, RN, of Owensboro, Ky. in June 1944. Upon separating from military service they returned to the family home in Alma - Bacon County, Ga. He entered the University of Georgia in 1948 and received a Bachelor of Science of Agriculture degree in 1950. He was appointed a Rural Mail Carrier in Bacon County in 1952 and served in the U. S. Post Office for 14 years. During those years Mr. Bower also engaged in tree farming and raising beef cattle. He received his Private Pilot license in 1959 and his Commercial Pilot license in 1962. Mr. Bower was an accomplished pilot who enjoyed aerobatics and pinpoint landings, a holdover from his days in Gliders. The Bower family was active in the First Baptist Church of Alma in the 1950's and 1960's, and Mr. Bower was elected and served as Deacon to the church. He was also the first commander of the VFW post in Alma and was a 50 year member of the Bacon County Masonic Lodge. In 1965, Mr. and Mrs. Bower entered into business in Alma as Bower's Medical Equipment. A year later they moved to Macon, Ga. and added a second business location in Augusta, Ga. in 1973, at that time renaming the business to Georgia Medical Equipment. James and Maureen Bower retired to Milledgeville, Ga. in 1986. Mr. Bower was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Ercell Bower, Allen E. Bower, Sr., and sisters Myrtice B. Givens and Marie B. Jones. He is survived by his sister Margaret Bower Meeks of St. Petersburg, Fl. In addition, he is survived by Maureen E. Bower, his wife of 63 years, his children Michael Bower of Augusta, Ga., and Margaret Bower Toler of Gray, Ga. He is also survived by five grandchildren. They are Melissa Bower Smith of Atlanta, Troup Bower and Amelia Bower of Augusta, and Jimmy and Tammy Toler of Macon, Ga. Following the service, friends are invited to the family home in Milledgeville.

James Bower

September 3, 1918 - March 15, 2008