9 Oct 1964: Robert E. Hower, prominent local teacher, church worker and civic leader, died unexpectedly at 5 a.m. today in the Lebanon Sanatorium at the age of 73. He lived at 1417 Elm St. Hower was the former owner for many years of the Lebanon Business College, which closed in 1958. He formerly taught school in Suedberg, Schuylkill County, and in the West Lebanon schools where he served as principal. He continued to be active, up until recent days, as a substitute teacher in the Lebanon city and county schools. An active member of the First Evangelical Congregational Church, he served many years on the official board and the trustee board and was a former Sunday School teacher. For many years, he was a delegate to the annual conference of his church. Hower was also a member and past president of the Lebanon Rotary Club and a member of the National Association of Cost Accountants. Among his many activities, he enjoyed writing poetry, and earned for himself the unofficial designation as "Poet Laureate of Lebanon County." Hower was born in the Greble-Fredericksburg area, of Lebanon County, where his father, the late Wilson Hower, was an old-time schoolmaster. His mother was the late Sara Swartz Hower. At the age of 17, Hower was presiding over his own classroom in a one room school in Suedberg. He was teacher and student at the same time, pursuing his own education in the form of summer courses at Kutztown State Teachers College. He also studied at a local normal school in Lebanon, at Elizabethtown College and at Lebanon Valley College. After several years as a country schoolteacher, Hower became principal of the West Lebanon Schools. He was principal only 18 days when he was called to service in World War One. His scheduled training in Officers Candidate School was postponed by a bout with pneumonia and the war ended before his scheduled shipment overseas became effective. While principal at West Lebanon, he met his future wife, Miss Anne Potteiger, a second grade teacher there. They were married two years later. About 1924, Hower joined the faculty of the Lebanon Business College, later becoming owner and principal of the school. A man of many interests, Hower was a golfer and enjoyed coin and stamp collecting and hunting and fishing. His principle interest, however, was centered on his
family to which he was devoted. In addition to his wife, Mrs. Anne Potteiger Hower, he is survived by one son, Robert Eugene, at home; one daughter, Marny, wife of Paul Gudikunst, Wilshire, Pa.; two grandsons, David and John Gudikunst; and one brother, Frank Hower, Greble. [Lebanon Daily News]

12 Oct 1964: Members of the official board of First Evangelical Congregational Church were pallbearers for Robert E. Hower, prominent, local church worker and teacher, whose funeral was held this afternoon from the Rohland Parlors. The husband of Mrs. Anne Potteiger Hower, he resided at 1417 Elm St. ficiating at the funeral services were the Rev. Jacob R. Weaver, pastor of First EC Church and the Rev. George R. Riffert, a retired minister of the EC Church. Burial was in lona EUB Cemetery. Pallbearers were Samuel Ditt, Clifford Light, Michael Lombardy, Warren Radcliff, Dr. E. W. Schell and Russell Uhler. [Lebanon Daily News]