BOWSER Dr. William J. Bowser went to be with his Lord and Savior, Saturday December 29, 2012. Dr. Bowser was born in New Kensington, Pennsylvania February 26, 1926 to Mary and William Bowser. After graduating high school Dr. Bowser joined the Air Force and was honorably discharged. A graduate of Carroll College in Waukesha Wisconsin, Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Chicago, Illinois, and Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio. Pastor Bowser's first ministry was at Christ Baptist in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He later became the founding pastor of St. Clair Avenue Baptist in Hamilton, Ohio and from there to Linden/Karl Road Baptist Church in Columbus, Ohio, then to First Baptist Church in Marshalltown, Iowa. He also served as President of the Ohio Baptist Convention. Family was an important part of pastor's life. He is preceded in death by daughter Linda J. Kocher and sister Ruth Tress. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Dorothy (Timmins) Bowser; children, Rev. Richard L. and wife, Valerie Bowser, Rebecca J. Pyles, and Dr. William "Jody" and wife, Caryn Bowser; 14 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; brothers, Richard (Ruth) Bowser and Sherwin (Pat) Bowser; brother-in-law, George Tress; many nieces and nephews. Visitation Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at GRAUMLICH FUNERAL HOME, 1351 S. High Street. Service Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013 at 11 a.m. at Karl Road Baptist Church, 5750 Karl Rd., Columbus OH 43229, Rev. Rick Breusch and Dr. Glenn Perry officiating. Interment to follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens. Those who wish may direct contributions to the Central Ohio Diabetes Assoc., 1100 Dennison Ave., Columbus OH 43201. To sign and view Dr. Bowser's book of memories please visit www.graumlichfuneralhome.com
Published in The Columbus Dispatch from December 30 to December 31, 2012