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Author: KarinKing45
Surnames: Bowers, Bobay, Nieport, Smith, Bentz
Classification: obituary
Message Board URL:
http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.indiana.counties...
Message Board Post:
Decatur Daily Democrat
Adams County, Indiana
Saturday, June 18, 1977
MONDAY RITES FOR ACCIDENT VICTIM
Funeral services for Russell J. Bowers, 35, of 411 Mercer Ave., who was killed in a
motorcycle accident early Friday morning in Van Wert County, Ohio, will be held at 10 a.m.
Monday in the St. Mary's Catholic Church, with Rev. Msgr. Simeon Schmidtt
officiating.
Burial will be in the St. Joseph Cemetery and friends may call at the Zwick Funeral
Home after 7 p.m. today. The Rosary will be recited at 8 p.m. Sunday and Moose memorial
services are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. today.
Van Wert Post, Ohio Highway Patrol, reported that members of a Patrol Motor Vehicle
Inspection team were notified by a passerby at 9:40 a.m. (Ohio time) Friday that a man was
lying in a field off the north side of U.S. 224, along with a motorcycle. The automobile
inspection crew notified the patrol post, then went to the scene.
It appeared that the accident occurred during the night and that Mr. Bowers apparently
failed to negotiate a curve, went off the north side of the highway and into a field,
traveling approximately 130 yards. It was reported that he was eastbound.
Dr. A. C. Diller, Van Wert County Coroner, said cause of death was due to a broken
neck, multiple rib fractures and internal injuries.
The coroner listed time of death at 1 a.m. (Indiana time) Friday.
The accident occurred about 8 miles west of Van Wert.
It was the seventh fatality of the year in Van Wert County and the first fatal
motorcycle accident.
Mr. Bowers was employed at the General Electric plant in Decatur for the past 16 years,
and was working in the maintenance department as a plumber.
He was a member of the St. Mary's Catholic Church, Holy Name Society, and Moose
Lodge 1311.
Born in Jefferson Township, Allen County, on March 18, 1942, he was a son of Edward and
Mildred Bobay-Bowers.
Survivors include the parents, two children, Jeffery Joseph and Joan Kay, both at
home; five sisters, Mrs. David (Edna) Nieport, Dayton, Ohio; Mrs. Ronald (Donna) Smith,
Elkhart; Mrs. Stephen (Janet) Bentz, route 6, Decatur; Jean Bowers and Ann Bowers, both
at home; 4 brothers, Raymond Bowers, South Bend; Charles Bowers, route 6, Decatur;
James Bowers, route 6, Decatur and David Bowers, at home.
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