Robert Louis Bowsher died peacefully on December 29, 2012 at St. James Place. He was born on May 21, 1914 in Wapakoneta, Ohio, to Francis Jacob Bowsher and Louise Fisher Bowsher. His family owned a hardware and farm supply business, which once employed Neil Armstrong, the astronaut, as a teenage clerk. As a student at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, during the Depression, Bob worked his way through college at a variety of jobs including washing dishes and selling tennis equipment. After his graduation in 1936, he worked in sales for Container Corporation of America. Aside from his military service, he remained with the company over 30 years, retiring in 1977 as the general manager of its corrugated box plant in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1940, he married his wife of 59 years, Gene Lois Troxel. During World War II, Bob was an officer in the Navy's Armed Guard, in charge of the armaments on armed transport vessels. He served on the oil tanker, the Gulf Pride, and participated in the first successful convoy to Murmansk, Russia. Between 1977 and 1998, Bob and Gene split their time between Cincinnati and Naples, Florida, moving to Baton Rouge in 1998 to be near their son and his family. Bob was a devoted golfer, sports aficionado, passionate reader and lover of travel. He and his wife travelled throughout the world, visiting Mexico, Europe, Africa, India, Japan and Southeast Asia. On a trip to Africa, Bob and Gene were trapped in the Hilton Hotel in Kampala, Uganda for three days during Idi Amin's coup in 1971. In addition to his parents and his wife, Bob was preceded in death by his younger brother, Mark Bowsher. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Robert T. Bowsher and Linda Helland Bowsher; granddaughters, Julia Hadfield Bowsher and her husband, Sean Richard Burt, of Fargo, North Dakota, and Emily Collins Bowsher and her husband, Charles David Cash, of Highland Park, New Jersey; and great-granddaughters, Helen Bowsher Burt and Judith Louise Burt. The Family wishes to thank the staffs of the Health and Wellness Center and the Companion Services at St. James Place for their loving care during his last illness. Visitation will be held at St. James Episcopal Church, 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 18, until services at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. James Place Foundation, 333 Lee Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, or St. James Episcopal Church, 205 North 4th Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70801, or a charity of choice.
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6 Entries
The most high (Psalm 83:18) promises these things are only temporary. Romans 8:18. I send my deepest condolences
James Rooks
January 17, 2013
Linda & Bob,
Please accept our sympathy for your loss. I met Bob in 1958 and we later became friends and golf partners in Naples. A nicer man and true gentleman I never met. Thanks for the memories Bob.
The Good Lord will surely welcome you and Gene into His heavenly kingdom.
Irv & Dorie Grimes
January 17, 2013
With Deepest Sympathy. I am so sorry for your loss. May the God of all comfort be with you.
January 5, 2013
Linda and Bob - My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I miss seeing you both.
Meepsie Dougherty
January 4, 2013
You may not remember me, I used to see you when you came for lunch on Sundays.
I moved from St. James Place to Houston seven years ago, but we always remembered each others birthdays and always sent Christmas cards. My thoughts and prayers are with you. He will be missed at St. James Place
Ella Felton
January 3, 2013
I'm not sure if you remember me. I lived at St. James Place until I moved to Houston seven years ago. I used to see you on Sundays when you came to have lunch with your father. He and your mother were my friends and then later just him. I know they will miss him at St. James Place. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Ella Felton
January 3, 2013
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