A celebration of life service will be held at 11:00 am, Friday, June 8th at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 1010 Mooty Bridge Road, LaGrange, GA 30241. Visitation will precede the service, 9:00 – 10:45 am at the same location. A private burial will follow the service at a family cemetery in St. Marks, GA. Memorials may be made to Corinth Road Personal Care Home, 1141 Corinth Drive, Newnan, GA 30263 or to Best Friends Animal Society at www.bestfriends.org .
Fred was born December 22, 1928 in Tallassee, AL, to Fred Tillman and Emma Mae (McDonald) Bowers. He graduated from West Point High School in 1946 where he was named West Point High School’s IRON MAN as a three-sport letterman. After playing Semi-Pro baseball 1947-1949, he served in the U.S. Navy from January 1951-September 1954. He was assigned to the USS Sicily during the Korean War. After the war Fred attended Alabama Polytechnic Institute (Auburn University) and graduated in 1957.
Fred began his coaching career at Pike County High School, Brundidge, AL in 1958. He coached for 32 years in four different states – Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida. Coach Bowers fondest memories were of the many players he coached over the years and their success as grown men. Many of his players went on to get football scholarships at numerous colleges and universities because of Coach Bowers.
Fred is survived by his wife Betty Hipp Bowers, three sons, Fred Tillman (Buck) Bowers, III and his wife Deborah of Auburn, AL, Mark Turner Bowers and his wife Terry of Madison, GA, his daughter Emily Bowers of Vero Beach, FL Wesley Seale Bowers and his wife Vanessa of Frisco, TX., sister; Mildred Sims Also, his six grandchildren; Rowdy Bowers, Dillon Bowers, Brady Bowers, Bancs Bowers, Bailey Bowers, and Turner Bowers.
He is preceded in death by his parents Fred and Emma Mae, sisters Margaret Bowers Beville and Florence Bowers.
Those wishing to share a condolence or remembrance with the family may do so by visiting www.shlagrange.com.
Arrangements are by Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 1010 Mooty Bridge Road, LaGrange, GA 30240 (706) 884-8636
