Paul Bowers

Paul Ronald "Ron" Bowers, 82, of Swanton died on Friday, October 30, 2020, at his home. Born on July 7, 1938, in Bayard, WV, he was the son of the late Paul J. and Goldie O. (Shreve) Bowers.

Ron worked for Westvaco/New Page, retiring after more than 42 years of service. He also ran his own property management service for over 50 years during which time he provided necessary maintenance services to approximately 75 homes in the Turkey Neck area of Deep Creek Lake. In 1980, he took over the beef farm and that, along with gardening, was his biggest love. In his younger years, Ron was an avid hunter, trapper and fisherman. His greatest pastime was talking with his friends and strangers alike; he never knew a stranger and was a friend to everyone. As the years went by, Ron enjoyed sharing his love of farming and gardening with his children and many fun times were had by Ron and his family selling vegetables and cider at the local tailgate market where he enjoyed talking and sharing laughs with all. He always enjoyed spending time with his family and, later in life, he enjoyed time with them on the porch with his beloved Collie, Queenie.

He is survived by the love of his life and wife of 60 years, Patsy S. (DeWitt) Bowers; two sons, Ronald D. Bowers and wife Bonnie of Swanton and Brian E. Bowers and partner Robert Beckman of Oakland; a daughter, Vickie L. Weeks and husband Fred of Swanton; grandchildren, Jason Weaver, Megan Bowers, Amanda Beckman and husband Derek, Rachel Upperman and husband Derek, Brooke Rounds and husband Dean, Jessica Weeks, Tyler Bowers, and Carter Bowers; great grandchildren, Hunter Park, Haylee Rounds, Madison Beckman, Mason Beckman, Wyatt Friend, and Jayden Weaver.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Neva L. Bowers.

Friends will be welcome to pay respects on Sunday, November 8, 2020, between 1 and 4 PM at the C & S Fredlock Funeral Home, PA, 21 N 2nd St., Oakland. The family will be connected via a live stream from their home. Face mask and social distancing are required. We ask that, if you or a family member are ill, you stay at home.

A private, immediate family only, funeral service will be held on Monday, November 9, 2020, at 11 AM in the Calvary Tabernacle church with Pastor Pascal Crites officiating. Those wishing to view the service may do so on the Calvary Tabernacle Facebook page where it will be livestreamed.

Interment will be in the Garrett County Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to the Calvary Tabernacle Church in Accident, Maryland.

The C & S Fredlock Funeral Home, P.A., Oakland is honored to be serving the Bowers family.

Family Tribute to Ron Bowers

If you knew my dad, you would know that he had the gift of gab and if you were a complete stranger you would soon enough find out that dad never met a stranger. As a child growing up this used to frustrate me because a quick trip to Schmidt’s Store or to Southern States could turn into an hour-long conversation depending on who we ran into along the way. One thing that I didn’t realize until later in life, was the number of friends and acquaintances dad had because of his outgoing personality. As a young man, dad was an avid hunter, trapper and fisherman. He had a Boston Whaler boat and fished Deep Creek Lake frequently from his boat and the Turkey Neck Yacht Club docks. At the end of the day, he would bring prized size crappie, bass and perch home, which I would watch him filet for mom to prepare for his dinner. Dad also had an interest in pheasants and raised them for a short period of time in the farm brooder house and went to Iowa on a pheasant hunting trip returning with a prized bird which has hung above the fireplace for as long as I can remember. On June 5, 1960, dad married the love of his life, Pat, and over the course of 12 years had three (3) children. In June of 2020, mom and dad celebrated a 60-year anniversary together. Can you imagine 60 years?! Since retirement, it was unusual to find them traveling separately anywhere. They were always together and were still very much in love up to his recent passing. Mom and Dad created a loving and nurturing environment to raise us kids and I will always be eternally grateful for a good childhood and the memories growing up. Dad was a very hard worker and held down several jobs to provide for his family. He retired from Westvaco/New Page after 42+ years of service. Dad also had a property management business (cottage checking, dock installation and removal and snow plowing) for approximately 75 residences in the Turkey Neck area of Deep Creek Lake, which he ran for 50+ years. After the passing of my grandfather in 1980, dad took on another full-time job, beef farming. So, for the biggest part of his working career dad juggled 3 full time jobs, with the help of his family. I think it is safe to say this his true love was farming and gardening. Dad naturally had a green thumb from the start, which he has passed down to my sister, Vickie. He was always so proud of the vegetables he raised, especially the potatoes and sweet corn. His love for gardening and planting things inspired him to get me involved in selling sweet corn at the farm at an early age and continued for approximately 30 years. This early influence instilled in me the strong work ethic that I have today and my sense for business. In his spare time (no pun intended), dad started an orchard on the farm, planting so many different varieties of apples. The orchard grew over the years to included close 50 trees, which he pruned, sprayed, and cared for methodically in his prime. The apples produced from these trees would later be picked and processed on the farm using the old-fashioned press he purchased when I was a teenager. In the later 1980’s and early 1990’s it was commonplace to see the Bowers family at the local tailgate market selling the prized vegetables and cider all raised by dad with help of his family. We would do the selling and dad was the entertainment! Dad was most at home on his tractor either making hay or planting corn. He could be up to a quarter mile away and you could still hear him above the sounds of the tractor and equipment whistling or singing gospel hymns. I enjoyed listening to him and can still hear him as I sit here today. Dad and I frequently worked closely together in my adult years. I was thankful for the time we spent together one on one and the opportunity to bond with him. He was truly my mentor and role model. He taught me to work hard, tell the truth, be thankful, among other life lessons, which has led to my success today. I know he was proud of my accomplishments because from time to time he would pull me aside pat me on the back and tell me so. When my life changed approximately 8 years ago, dad’s love and understanding was unconditional, and I am forever grateful for that. Before the pandemic hit earlier this year, I had planned on taking mom and dad on a trip to a retirement home that Rob and I purchased last year in Garden City Beach, South Carolina. I was really surprised that they were both anxious to travel and to even consider flying. Unfortunately, the trip was postponed by fear of traveling with the elderly during the pandemic. So, I missed my window of opportunity for him the see the beach and to fly for the first time. But I take solace in the fact that he is flying high with not bodily restraints in heaven today. When I picked dad up at the hospital on Friday, he was so anxious to get home. When I saw him though the window of the hospital room, his face lit up and he gave me a little wave. We had a nice visit on the trip to the farm. I take comfort in the fact that he passed at home on the farm that he so loved and not in the hospital. Dad, if you are listening and looking down over all of us today, please know your family is always going to miss you and that we are proud of the life you lived, which will always remain in our memories.