Marvin Lee Bowers' Obituary
Marvin Lee Bowers died June 16, 2016 in Dallas, following a 15 year struggle with Parkinson Disease. He was born December 27, 1927 at Sealy Hospital in Santa Anna, Texas – the son of Marvin Lafayette Bowers and Ruth Stephen Oates (Maxine Minerva Monteith). He spent his early years in Corsicana and Dallas before moving to Henderson, Texas in 1940. He graduated from Henderson high school in 1944 and entered The University of Texas in Austin that same year. There he received his Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Professional Accounting degrees, his studies twice being interrupted for service in the United States Navy. He was part of the first group of Sailors to train on the Russian codes at the end of World War II, and was called back to duty in 1950. He served in Adak, Alaska as a radio operator due to his training in Russian code. Just prior to his shipping out for Adak in 1950, Marvin went on a blind date with a young lady named Shirley Ann Canales. Upon returning to Dallas, the two re-connected and they were married in the home of their dear friend Irma Frye on December 18, 1953. The two lived throughout their marriage in the Casa View area of Dallas, and had a lively network of friends and attended many social functions. In 1957 Shirley gave birth to their daughter, Beth Ann Bowers, in 1960 they had their son Kerry Lynn Bowers, and in 1962, they had a second son, Mark Lee Bowers. Marvin worked as Controller for Safeway Stores Dallas Division, and then as Vice-President and Controller for Geomap Company, before opening his own business in 1978. He was a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Administrative Manager, formerly held memberships in the American Institute of Certified Accountants, Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants, Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants and Administrative Management Society, serving the latter organization as Dallas Chapter President, and on their International Board as a Director and Vice-President. Throughout his life Marvin fulfilled his love of travel by visiting multiple locations in the Unites States, Canada, Mexico and throughout Europe. He loved traveling with his wife Shirley, other family members, and his network of close friends. Upon retirement he was able to dedicate much more time to this and could often be found on a new adventure with friends and family. Both before and after his retirement he spent a great deal of time with his grandchildren, with whom he always had time to read, share stories, and travel. He is preceded in death by his wife of 62 years Shirley Canales Bowers, son Kerry Lynn Bowers, sister Johnie Ruth Hill, and brother Col. William Thomas Bowers. He is survived by his daughter Beth Malone and son-in-law Jim, and his son Mark and daughter-in-law Wilma. He is also survived by his 5 grandchildren: Megan Leigh Malone, Molly Jo Malone Hodson and her husband Cary Hodson, Timothy Austin Malone and his wife Michelle Thomas Malone, Christina Martinez Bennett, and Matthew Lee Bowers-Flores, and his two great grandchildren, Madyson Martinez and Avalyn Rose Bennett. Additional survivors include his brother Marcus Bowers and wife Sandra of Denver, CO, sister-in-law Ingrid Bowers of Burke, VA, and many nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends. A memorial service will be held at 2:30 pm on June 20, 2016 at Restland Memorial Park, 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75243 in the Memorial Chapel. A wake will be held after the funeral service at Intrinsic Smokehouse & Brewery 509 W State St, Garland, TX 75040. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted into Restland Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75243. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Michael J. Fox Parkinson’s Foundation.
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