FREDERICK WARD BOWERS

Frederick Ward Bowers gravestone
(Photo by Vernon B. Paddock)

B. September 12, 1925 in New Jersey
M. WW II Veteran, Navy, grade SM 2/c
D. April 22, 1957
Find A Grave memorial (click here)

  • Father: Frederick James Bowers born September 12, 1892 in Newark, Essex County, NJ; married (1) Gladys P. Bennett in 1917 in New Jersey; married (2) Bertha Buchko in May 1954 in Cranbury Township, Middlesex County, NJ; Frederick died September 27, 1960 in Monmouth Junction, NY; buried in Clover Leaf Memorial Park, Woodbridge, Middlesex County, NJ

According to the U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918:

“Name in full: Frederick Bowers; Age in yrs: 24, Home address: 109 Devine St., Newark, N.J.; Date of birth: Sept 12 1892; Natural born citizen; What is your present occupation: Iron Moulder; By whom employed? Oscar Barnett Co; Where employed: Lyons Ave & Coit St. Irvington; Have you a father, mother, wife, child under 12, or a sister or brother under 12, solely dependent on you for support?: Wife – expect child; Married or single: Married; Race: Caucasian; Tall, medium, or short?: Medium; Slender, medium or stout: Medium; Color of eyes: Blue; Color of hair: Red; Bald?: No; Signed: 6/5/17”

According to the U.S., World War II Registration Cards, 1942:

“Name: Fred James Bowers; Place of Residence: 48 Union Ave. Irvington, Essex County, N.J.; Mailing Address: Same; Telephone: none; Age in Years: 49; Date of Birth: Sept. 12, 1892, Place of Birth: Newark, N. Jersey; Name and Address of Person Who Will Always Know Your Address: Mr. Edmund Bowers (brother) 33 Puree St., Hillside, N. J.; Employer’s Name and Address: Barnett Foundry & Machine Shop; Place of Employment: Lyons Ave at Coit St., Irvington, Essex, N.J. ; Race: White; Height: 5-9; Weight: 158; Eyes: Blue; Hair: Red; Complexion: Ruddy; Signed: Apr. 27, 1942”

According to the Central New Jersey (New Brunswick NJ) Wednesay, September 28, 1960, page 41:

“FREDERICK J. BOWERS

   SOUTH BRUNSWICK – Frederick James Bowers, of Monmouth Junction died yesterday at his home.  He was 68.
   Mr. Bowers was born in Newark, son of the late James and Elizabeth Burgess.  He had been employed as a coremaker at the Triangle Conduit and Cable Corp., New Brunswick, until his retirement last year.
   Surviving are his wife, Bertha Buchko Bowers, two sons, James Lee of Boonton and Marshall of Newark; two daughters, Mrs. Louis Toth of Monmouth Junction and Miss Elizabeth Ann at home; a brother, Edmond of Irvington; a sister, Mrs. Albert Enguist of Union and six grandchildren.
   Funeral services will be held Friday at 2 p.m. at the Quackenboss Funeral Home, 156 Livingston Ave.  The Rev. James Brown of the First Baptist Church will officiate.
   Interment will be in Clover Leaf Memorial Park, Woodbridge.”

  • Mother: Gladys P. (Bennett) Bowers born about 1894 in Pennsylvania; Gladys died after 1942
  • Step Mother: Bertha (Buchko) Bowers
  • Wife: Louise Mae (Mills) (Ramlow) Bowers born April 17, 1920 in Illinois

According to the U.S., Social Security Applications and Claimes Index, 1936-2007:

“Name: Louisa Mae Odell [Louisa Mae Bowers] [Louise Capetillo] [Louise Robles] [Louise Ramlow] [Louisa Mae Mill]; Gender: Female; Race: White; Birth Date: 17 Apr 1920; Birth Place: New Holland, Illinois [Dewight Cook Illinois]; Death Date: Feb 1992; Father Wilbert Mill; Mother: Mamie A. Corner; SSN: 356184248; Notes: Oct 1942: Name listed as LOUISA MAE ODELL; Apr 1948: Name listed as LOUISA MAE BOWERS; Nov 1973: Name listed as LOUISE MAE CAPETILLO; 21 May 1976: Names listed as LOUISE MAE ROBLES; 26 Mar 1979: Name listed as LOUISE M RAMLOW; 03 Oct 1986: Name listed as LOUISE M NAVRRO”

(NOTE: Louise may be the daughter of William Frederick John Ramlow and Mamie Ann (Mills) Ramlow.  They are buried in the Fort Hill Cemetery.  According to the 1930 U.S. Census “Louisa M” was living in Chicago, IL along with her parents and siblings, James, John W. and Frederick.  Louise was the husband of Bonisaco Navarro and she died February 7, 1992 at Humana Hospital in Brandon, FL.  Her obituary states her brother was Fred Ramlow of Riverview, FL.)  (See section pertaining to William Frederick John Ramlow buried in the Fort Hill Cemetery)  (See section pertaining to Mamie Ann (Mills) Ramlow buried in the Fort Hill Cemetery) )

  •  Siblings:
    • Janet Estella (Bowers) Ower born November 26, 1917 in Irvington, Essex County, NY; married Herbert William Ower (1918-1977) in 1940 in New Jersey
    • James Lee Bowers born  May 18, 1924 in Newark, Essex County, NJ; Coast Guard Veteran (October 1, 1942 – July 12, 1946); married Mary V. Testa (1912-1998) in 1946 in New Jersey; James died September 26, 1999

According to the U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947:

“Name: James Lee Bowers; Place of Residence: 48 Union Ave, Irvington, Essex County, NJ; Mailing Address: Same; Telephone: none; Age in Years: 18; Date of Birth: May 18, 1924; Place of Birth: Newark, N.J.; Name and Address of Person Who Will Always Know Your Address: Mrs. Gladys Bowers – Mother, 48 Union Ave., Irvington; Employer’s Name and Address: Barnett Foundry; Place of Employment: Coit St., Irvington, Essex County, N. J.; Race: White; Height: 5-7; Weight: 147; Eyes: Blue; Hair: Brown; Complexion: Light; Signed: 6-30-42”

According to the Daily Record (Morristown NJ) Monday, September 27, 1999, page 12:

“James L. Bowers Sr., 75,
formerly of Montville

   WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – James L. Bowers Sr. died yesterday in Hospice of Palm Beach County in Florida after a short illness.  He was 75.
   Born in New Jersey, he lived in Montville for 35 years before moving to West Palm Beach 10 years ago.
   He was a long-distance bus driver at Lakeland Bus Co. in Dover and a truck driver at Superior Carriers in Kenvil for 15 years before retiring in 1986.
   He was a member of the Montville Reformed Church.
   He wife of more than 50 years, Mary, died in 1998.
   He is survived by three daughters, Barbara Lane of Naples, Mary Amato of Palm Gardens and Donna Tredway of Hopatcong; a son, James Jr. of North Carolina; a sister, Janet Kelly of Jacksonville; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
   Arrangements are by All-County Cremation, 1107 Lake Ave., Lake Worth.”

Additional Information:

According to the 1930 U.S. Census for Irvington Town, Essex County, New Jersey living at 42 Smalley Terrace, the household members were:

“James Bowers, head, age 71, married at age 24, born in England, parents born in England, immigration year: 1895, Alien, Occupation: Molder – Iron Steel; Elizabeth Bowers, wife, age 70, married at age 23, born in England, parents born in England, immigration year: 1895, Alien; Frederick Bowers, son, age 37, born in New Jersey, parents born in England, Occupation: Core Maker – Iron Foundry; James Bowers, grand child, age 6, single, born in New Jersey, father born in New Jersey, mother born in Pennsylvania; Frederick Bowers, grand child, age 4, single, born in New Jersey, father born in New Jersey, mother born in Pennsylvania”

According to the 1940 U. S. Census for Irvington, Essex County, New Jersey living at 48 Union Ave., the household members were:

“Fred J Bowers, head, age 47, widowed, highest grade completed: 7, born in New Jersey, lived in same place in 1935, Occupation: Core maker – Iron foundry; James Bowers, son, age 15, single, highest grade completed: H1, born in New Jersey, lived in same place in 1935; Fred Bowers, son, age 14, single, highest grade completed: 8, born in New Jersey, lived in same place in 1935”

According to the U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949:

“REPORT OF CHANGES
of U.S.S. LST 360
for the month ending 31st day of July, 1943

STAFF Name: Bowers, Frederick War; Service Number: 225 13 55; Rating at Date of Last Report: SM 3c; Date of Enlistment: 6 10 42; Transferred; Date of Occurrences: July 13, 1943; Vessel or station from which received: A.A.T.B., Bizerte, Tunisia”

According to the 1950 U.S. Census for DuPage Township, Will County, IL living on Romeo Road, the household members were:

“Fred Bowers, head, age 24, married, born in New Jersey, Occupation: Messenger – Publishing Co;  Louise Bowers, wife, age 30, married, born in Illinois; Louise Butcher, lodger, age 16, never married, born in Ohio”

(NOTE: Listed next on the census record is James Ramlow, age 32, born in Illinois.  James may be the brother of Louise (Ramlow) Bowers)

According to U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1970:

“Name of Deceased: BOWERS, FREDERICK W. (written – “ard”); Enlistment Date: 10-06-42; Discharge Date: 11-12-46 (written – “Hon”); Service No.: 225 13 55; State: Illinois; Grade: SM 2/c; Branch of Service: U.S. Navy; Date of Birth: 9-12-25 (written: “11”); Date of Death: 4-22-57; Emblem: Christian; Check Type Required: Flat Granite Marker; Ship to: Collins & Loomis, Libertyville, Illinois; Freight Station: Libertyville, Illinois; Name and Location of Cemetery: Fort Hill, Round Lake, Illinois; Signed: 7/11/57; Name and Address of Application: Louise M. Bowers, 419 Hillandale, Round Lake, Illinois; (back side of card) (written: “Born in N. J – Enl. in N J) (written: “SM2 USNavy/wwII); Signature of Superintendent: E. Vogt”

According to the Chicago Tribune (Chicago IL) Friday, April 26, 1957, page 14:

“BOWERS – Frederick W. Bowers of Round Lake, Ill., beloved husband of Louise, nee Ramlow; dear son of Fred and Bertha Bowers of New Jersey.  Services Friday, 2 p. m., at MacGillis funeral home, Round Lake.”