Published in The Rochester Sentinel
Thursday, July 14, 1983

Vernie Bowen
Vernie BOWEN of Leiters Ford, father of former Indiana Gov. Otis R. BOWEN, died at 4 p.m. Wednesday in Woodlawn Hospital, where he had been a patient since May 20. He was 85 years of age.
Mr. Bowen administered the oath of office for his son's second four-year term as governor, which began in 1977. Otis Bowen, of Bremen and Indianapolis, now is a professor at the Indiana University Medial School at Indianapolis.
Vernie Bowen was born Jan. 31, 1898 in Miami County to John P. and Rebecca Jane HARTMAN BOWEN and had resided most of his life in Fulton County. He was married Dec. 25, 1915 in Rochester to Pearl Irene WRIGHT, who survives.
Mr. Bowen was a school teacher for 43 years, owned and operated the Village Hardware in Leiters Ford for 20 years, was the Aubbeenaubbee Township trustee for four years, was a member of the Woodlawn Hospital Board of Trustees for 14 years and was a former president of the board; was a former president of the Leiters Ford Merchants Association; was a former secretary of the Aubbeenaubbee Township Corp., and had taught Sunday School at the Leiters Ford United Methodist Church for several years.
During his school teaching career, he also coached basketball at Fulton, Francesville and Crown Point. He taught, in order, at School No. 11 of Liberty Township, Dead Man's College grade school in Richland Township, Burton Elementary School in Rochester Townsip, Kewanna School for four years, Fulton School for 10 years, Francesville School for two years, Crown Point School for five years, East Chicago School, and at Leiters Ford School for seven years.
Mr. Bowen was a member of Fulton Masonic Lodge, South Bend Scottish Rite, Maxinkuckee I.O.O.F. and the Retired Teachers Association. He was a graduate of Valparaiso University and Manchester Collete.
Surviving with the wife and son Otis are another son, Richard A. BOWEN, Plymouth; three daughters, Mrs. Lester (Esther) PLAIN, Hammond; Mrs. Evelyn AMACHER, Valparaiso, and Mrs. Leland (Sarah Jane) SCANDLING, South Bend; sixteen grandchildren; twenty-one great-grandchildren; ten step-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. Mr. Bowen was the last of a family of 15 children. Seven sisters and seven brothers preceded in death.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Leiters Ford United Methodist Church with the Rev. Phillip HERSHBERGER officiating. Burial will be in the Rochester I.O.O.F. Cemetery.
Friends may call at the Foster & Good Funeral Home from 2 to 9 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. until noon Saturday, then at the church from 1 to 2 p.m. The Fulton Masonic Lodge will conduct rites at 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

SOURCE:
Fulton County Indiana Obituaries - 1983
by Jean C. and Wendell C. Tombaugh