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Edgar M. Bowers

Graveside services for Edgar M. Bowers, 96, took place Thursday, Dec. 13, at Greenwood cemetery in Teague.

Visitation was Wednesday with the family present at the funeral home.

Edgar M. Bowers, Jr., a member of the “Greatest Generation” passed away Sunday evening, Dec. 9, 2018, with his wife of over seventy-five years, Jeannie, by his side.

Edgar was born in a small house on the south side of Teague April 5, 1922, the youngest of four siblings. He grew up in Teague, graduating from Teague High School with the class of 1939, where he excelled in sports, particularly football and track.

He was also active in in band and many other school related functions including serving as class officer in each year. Edgar’s football prowess allowed him to attend Westminster Junior College on a football scholarship.

While Edgar was in college, World War II touched the American soil with the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Eager to join the fight, Edgar was able to accelerate college graduation, with the support of several dedicated teachers, and applied for Naval officer candidacy, immediately upon fulfilling academic requirements.

He was accepted to the Navy advancing to senior lieutenant. Once he received his commission, Edgar took a quick leave in Corpus Christi to marry his high school sweetheart, Elizabeth E. (Jeannie) Pollock. Jeannie followed Edgar throughout the United States as he moved from one assignment to another during wartime. Edgar first trained as a fighter pilot taking off and landing on Navy carriers.

The Navy soon recognized his talents in instruction and Edgar was assigned to training in navigation and bombing. Much later in life, Edgar was delighted to find that one of the cadets he had trained became the 41st President of the United States, the late George H. W. Bush.

A letter of recognition from President Bush, along with a copy of one of cadet Bush’s training logs signed off by his training officer, Edgar M. Bowers Jr, is on display at the B.R.I. Museum in Teague. While in the service, Edgar and Jeannie welcomed their first daughter, Martha Jean. Following the war, the family remained in Texas where a second daughter, Barbara Ann (Hootie) was born.

At this time, Edgar was employed with the relatively new federal program, the Social Security Administration. During this time, Edgar joined the Masonic Lodge and remained a member the rest of his life, for over sixty-five years.

Edgar advanced from claims representative to field office manager, office assistant manager and manager during his career with the Social Security Administration.

He was manager of the Houston Social Security office when that office was the largest office in terms of employees in the country. Edgar was personally appointed to his final position, Central Texas District Manager headquartered in Austin, by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

A photograph of Edgar with L.B.J. together in the White House Oval Office proudly hangs in the Bowers family home.

Several years later, Edgar was honored to be called to the “Texas White House” in Johnson City to personally take the retired President Johnson’s social security application.

After his successful government career, Edgar and Jeannie retired to their small property, affectionately called the farm, on Burleson Hill, outside of Dew. Many happy years later, they returned to Teague, residing in Jeannie’s family home.

Edgar was preceded in death by parents, Edgar M. Bowers, Sr. and Janie Pearl Looney Bowers; his three siblings, Marguerite Bowers Wertz, Charles M. Bowers, and Charlene Bowers; and one niece, Janet Bowers Bartenstein.

He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth (Jeannie) Pollock Bowers of Teague; two daughters, Marty Bowers Walker of Teague and Barbara (Hootie) Bowers Hawkins of Georgetown; two granddaughters, Sutton Walker Aldrich of Teague and Sarah Hawkins and wife Mallory McKenney of Pflugerville; one great-granddaughter, Makenzie Aldrich of Teague; one nephew, Bill D. Bowers and wife Joy of Teague; two nieces, Rita Wertz Walker and husband Benny of Teague, and Mary Wertz Wall and husband Cliff of Southlake; many much loved grand and greatgrand nieces and nephews.

The family requests memorials be made to the church or charity of your choice.

Visit bowersfuneralhome.net to sign the memorial guestbook or to leave a message for the family.

The Teague Chronicle

319 Main Street • P.O. Box 631
Teague, Texas 75860
Office: (254) 739-2141
Fax: (254) 739-2144