Lamar W. Hobby Bower

LaMar Hobby W. Bower, 94, of Genoa died Tuesday afternoon, May 9, 2017, at the Genoa Retirement Village. LaMar was born January 1, 1923, in Fremont, Ohio, to Harold W. and Violet M. (Worman) Bower. He was a 1941 graduate of Genoa High School, where he played football and basketball all four years. He worked at Curtiss Wright Aircraft Plant in Columbus, Ohio, from November 1941 until January 1943, when he was drafted into the U.S. Army Air Corps in January and assigned to the 9th Weather Squadron. LaMar served over seas at Waller Field on the Island of Trinidad from July 1943 to November 1944 and then assigned to Puerto Rico until his discharge in November 1945. While stationed in Puerto Rico at Borinquen Field, LaMar helped to develop the first hurricane watch squadron with B-25 aircraft. After his military service, LaMar married Merivene V. Heldt on August 10, 1946, and she preceded him in death February 5, 2008. Together they raised three children, Diana Bower, Wade Bower and Neil (Debby) Bower, who survive him. He is also survived by two grandchildren, Wade, Jr. and Nadine, and brother, Russ (Ruth) Bower. LaMar was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and brother, John Bower. LaMar worked for his fathers trucking company, H.W. Bower Trucking, from January 1946 to February 1980. He started as an over-the-road semi driver hauling gasoline and fuel oil and then worked as dispatcher and mechanic. Then in 1980 LaMar went to work at the Genoa Junior High School as a custodian until his retirement in April 1986. LaMar was a member of the Clay-Genoa Vol. Fire Dept. and a 65-year member of Genoa American Legion Post #324. He was a statistician for 25 years for Genoa football, and one of his proudest moments was being inducted into the Genoa Athletic Hall of Fame. A memorial service for LaMar will be held 11:00 a.m., Thursday, May 18, 2017, at St. Johns United Church of Christ, with visitation from 10-11 a.m. Interment will take place in Clay Township Cemetery, Genoa. The family has suggested that memorials be directed to St. Johns UCC, 1213 Washington St., Genoa, OH 43430; the Allen-Clay Joint Fire Dist. #36, 101 E. 6th St., Genoa, OH 43430; or the Genoa Area Schools Athletics, 2820 N. Genoa Clay Center Rd., Genoa, OH 43430. Robinson-Walker Funeral Home & Crematory of Genoa has assisted the family with arrangements.