George Gallaher Bowers, 84, passed away in the early morning hours of Jan. 3, 2007, at the Warm Beach Senior Community.
He was born George Gallaher on April 3, 1922 at the family homestead near Tonasket, Wash., but was raised near Milton-Freewater, Ore., by his uncle Charles and aunt Gertrude Bowers, after the passing of his mother, when he was 9 months old. He graduated from McLoughlin Union High School, Milton-Freewater, Ore., in 1939 and took an extra year of high school. He entered Eastern Oregon College in 1940 where he met his future wife, Wilma Almy Brownell and they were married on Oct. 9, 1942. Their lives were interrupted by WWII when he entered the Army Air Corps in 1943, serving until 1946.
After the war, he graduated from Eastern Oregon College and began teaching, first in Athena, Ore., then Pleasant View School near Milton-Freewater, and Pendleton. He served as a Superintendent of Schools in Weston, Ore., Washtucna, Wash., Richland, Wash., Arlington, Wash, Toppenish, Wash. and Madras, Ore., retiring in 1977. After retirement, he moved to Pendleton where his sons built his dream home. He kept busy with a number of jobs, finally settling on insurance sales. In 2002, they moved to the Warm Beach Senior Community, near Stanwood, Wash.
He loved to play and sing music and played a number of instruments but usually the guitar and piano. This was a great pleasure to all his family, friends and acquaintances. In addition he loved to hunt, fish, and spend time with his beloved family.
He is survived by his devoted wife Wilma of 64 years, his loving children: Cheryl and Russ Barron (Stanwood); Alan (Chattaroy); Lee and Laurie (Silver Lake, Ore.); Mary and Curt Helgeland (Arlington); Virginia Purchase (Spring Valley, Calif.); Loretta Brown (Bellevue); Brian (Seattle); sisters Mary Young (Walla Walla) and Gladys MacNair (Valley Village, Calif.); 21 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and numerous nephews, nieces and friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, George Washington Gallaher, his mother Verna Mae Gallaher, Charles and Gertrude Bowers, brothers Richard Bowers, Jim Gallaher, Russell Gallaher and Radford Gallaher, sister Bernice and an infant son, Wayne.
A public viewing was held Friday, Jan. 5, 2007, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Gilbertson Funeral Home, Stanwood. A graveside service was held at 10 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 6, at Arlington Municipal Cemetery. A memorial service was held at the Warm Beach Senior Community, at the Beachwood Lounge, on Sunday afternoon, Jan. 7, at 2 p.m. Memorial contributions can be made to the Warm Beach Senior Community.
Arrangements were under the direction of Gilbertson Funeral Home, Stanwood, Washington.