Bethany - Robert B. Bower, 82, of Bethany, a Rural Letter Carrier for the U.S. Postal Service in East Bethany, retiring in 1990 from the Post Office in Darien, died Monday, September 27, 2010at his home, while under Homecare and Hospice.
Mr. Bower was born May 30, 1928 in Batavia, NY, a son of the late Fred and Belle (Bissell) Bower.
He was a 57 year member of the East Bethany Presbyterian Church and known around Bethany as “The Candy Man” as he was a great candymaker. He was a deputy Tax Collector for 44 years in the Town of Bethany, a life member and past Fire Chief, serving for 54 year with the Bethany Volunteer Fire Department, former board member and past president of the Genesee County Mutual Aid Advisory Board, member of the Western New York Firemen's Association, historian and member of the Rural Carriers Association and past secretary of the Genesee County Rural Letter Carries Association.
He served with the Marine Corps during World War II on the Island of Guam for two years. He was called back to active duty during the Korean War and achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was a member of the Hansen Brothers Marine Corps League Detachment #95, life member of the Veness - Strollo Post 1602 Veterans of Foreign Wars and Glenn S. Loomis Post #332 American Legion, where he also served as Chaplain.
He is survived by his wife, Norma (Phillips) Bower whom he married on March 21, 1953; 5 children, Robert (Susan) Bower of Rush, Kathleen (Rev. Edwin) Blair of VA, Douglas L. (Dawn) Bower of Albion, Calvin (Ruth) Bower of Canadice and Daniel (Anne) Bower of Tupper Lake; 3 brothers, Donald (Audrey) Bower of N.C., David Bower of Port Leyden and Paul (Judy) Bower of Bergen; 12 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
He is the brother of the late Dorothy Zipfel and Ruth Brown.
Friends may call on Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. at H.E. Turner & Co. Funeral Home, 403 E. Main St., Batavia. Services will be at 2:00 p.m. Thursday at East Bethany Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to East Bethany Presbyterian Church, 5735 Ellicott Street Road, East Bethany, NY 14054 or to Bethany Volunteer Fire Department, 5253 Old Telephone Road, East Bethany, NY 14054. Burial will be in East Bethany Cemetery. Condolences may be made at www.bataviafuneralhomes.com.
