Richard T. "Dick" Bowser

Richard T. "Dick" Bowser passed away at home after an extended battle with lung disease on June 27, 2016, surrounded by his family. Dick was married to the love of his life, Phyllis Arlene (Christianson) Bowser for over 60 years this past September. He was the son of the late George Walter Bowser and Helen Naomi (Chynoweth) Bowser. Dick would have been 82 years old this July. Born in Taylorville, Ill., Dick was a graduate of the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and a lifelong master craftsman in sheet metal fabrication and welding as well as a first rate automotive truck mechanic. His early career working for Alan Bevier Co. in Baltimore, Md. had him building tanks for trucks/tractor trailers for many years. He moved on to Caroll Independent Fuel Company in Baltimore, working as the truck shop foreman and head maintenance mechanic. Dick finished his working career with Durrett Shepard Steel, working as the head of maintenance shop foreman for the west Baltimore facility. He also performed custom welding / fabrication work, including helping build a private lighthouse in Delaware. Dick enjoyed life with his wife and four children, as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was an avid aviation enthusiast, obtaining his private pilot's license and loved "punching holes in the sky" on weekends. His hobbies included riding motorcycles and snowmobiles, working his vegetable garden, spending time with his family and close friends and making the impossible projects look easy to do. If you told Dick a project was "impossible", you'd find it done five minutes later -- he was just that good. And he'd tell you, too.... :-) Dick is survived by Phyllis, his wife of 60 years; and four children, MSgt. Timothy B. Bowser, USAF (Ret.) of Easton, Md.; Howard R. (Russ) Bowser and his wife Leslie (Mel) of Long Neck, Del.; Cynthia H. Bowser of Stewartstown; and Penelope M. Tyson and her husband Steven of Delta. Dick was also the proud grandfather of Richard L. Tyson and his wife Trisha of Delta, Amanda M. Tyson of Abingdon, Md.; Shanna Haney and her husband Daniel of Easton, Md.; and Michaela Anderson of Long Neck, Del. Rounding out the family tree are three additional grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. J.J. Hartenstein, Inc. of Stewartstown is handling the arrangements. Following cremation, a Celebration of Life party will be held at the family residence on Saturday, July 30, 2016 from noon to whenever the food, drinks and family stories run out. Friends are invited to attend and bring a covered dish if they wish. The family asks in lieu of flowers, that donations be made to the following: the nurses and caregivers from Hospice and Community Care and Wellspan VNA have been absolutely fabulous in their support and care during Dad's final days. Hospice and Community Care, P.O. Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604-4125; and Wellspan Visiting Nurses Association, c/o York Health Foundation, 50 N. Duke St., 2nd Floor, York, PA 17401.