Bowers, Meryl 'Junior' Jr.

Meryl “Junior” Bowers Jr., 80, of Toddville, died Monday, Sept. 24, 2012, at St. Luke's Hospital, Cedar Rapids. Funeral Service: 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Marion. The family will greet friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home in Marion, with recognition by the Cedar Rapids Fire Department Honor Guard. Burial: Dunkard Cemetery, rural Toddville, with military honors.

Survivors include his daughter, Julie Bowers of Toddville; sons, Jim Bowers of Center Point, and Rob (Carol) Bowers of Ames; grandchildren, Nicole, Allison and Chelsea; great-grandson, Gabriel; and sister, Janet Bowers of Texas.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Virginia; daughter, Jean Anne; brother, Donald Bowers; and sister, Joan O'Neill.

Junior was born March 22, 1932, in Cedar Rapids, the son of Meryl (Sr.) and Leona (Matheny) Bowers. He graduated from Toddville High School in 1950, and married Virginia Rae Wells on June 1, 1951, in Cedar Rapids. Virginia died March 2, 2000. Junior was a veteran of the United States Army, having served during the Korean conflict. He was a lieutenant firefighter with the Cedar Rapids Fire Department for 31 years, retiring in 1987. Junior also enjoyed farming and working in the Toddville area his entire life. He was a member of American Legion Post # 674 of Toddville.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Junior's memory.

Please sign the online guest book for Junior at m under obituaries.

Published in The Gazette Sept. 25, 2012.