Obituary of Fred Allen Bowers

Fred Allen Bowers, 74, of Boone, passed away Saturday, January 21, 2017. Fred was born in Oneonta, NY on April 10, 1942. He was raised in upstate New York, moving to Florida following high school graduation in Pulaski in 1961. Subsequent to earning his BA degree at Florida Southern College, Lakeland, and Master of Divinity at Emory University, Atlanta he served as a United Methodist minister in Florida for 18 years. In 1990, he began a second career, as a Rehabilitation Counselor with the State of Florida. He graduated from Auburn University (Alabama) in August of 2001, with a Masters Degree in Education, earning his Certificate in Rehabilitation Counseling shortly thereafter. He retired from both professions on April 30, 2007, and moved to Boone in July, 2009. From 1992 to 2009, he was a member of the Daytona Beach Concert Band, playing Alto Sax. He continued to play-in the Watauga Community Band-through Spring of 2015, and, at the time of his death, was a member of Deerfield United Methodist Church. He was a resident of Appalachian Brian Estates. Fred was preceded in death by his father, Glenn Allen Bowers and his mother, Katherine Estella Hamlin, and is survived by three children, Joy Barlow of North Carolina, Pete Bowers of Arizona and Ashley Barclay of Georgia; grandsons, Thomas and Marty of Georgia; granddaughter, Jillian Estella of North Carolina and sons-in-law, Paul Barlow and Lee Barclay. Memorial services will be conducted Tuesday, January 24, at 11 AM at Deerfield United Methodist Church, officiated by Pastor Wes Austin, Rev. Jim McKinney and Rev. Curtis Mull. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Watauga Community Band, in care of Pat Maddux, 454 Grand Blvd., Boone, NC 28607. Online condolences may be shared at www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Bowers family.