Richard S. Bowers

Richard Bowers, passed away on November 14, 2015 he was born September 13, 1945 to Paul and Janie Bowers of Pampa, Texas. He is survived by his wife Gwen of 38 years, daughter Debi Opiela and her husband Dennis with daughters Amanda and her sons Evan and Mason, Kara and her daughter Chloe, Haley, and sons Devin and Josh from Crosby, Texas; son Paul and his wife Sondra and sons Justin and Ryan of Saint Johns, Florida; daughter Kim Wimmer and her husband Calvin and sons Brody and Colton of Los Angeles, California; son Brian Harris of Baytown, Texas; son Noel and his wife Karina of Houston, Texas; brother J. P. his wife Pat, son Chris and daughter Sharon of Houston, Texas; brother Charles and his wife Janyth and sons Chandler, Chance, and Collin of Pampa, Texas; nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Richard was born and raised on the farm near Pampa, Texas. He is a 1963 graduate of Pampa High School where he was also the National Secretary and American Star Farmer award winner for the Future Farmers of America. He attended Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas graduating in 1968, and then returned to farming and ranching in the Pampa, Texas area. While farming and ranching in 1978 he also began working for the USDA Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service. In 1979 he was hired as the general manager for the Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District (GCD) in White Deer, Texas where he worked for eight years. He then moved to Dumas, Texas in 1987 to be the general manager for the North Plains GCD where he managed and lived for 20 years. In 2007 Richard and Gwen moved to Burnet, Texas where he assumed the general manager position for the Central Texas GCD. In August of 2011 he officially retired with over 32 years of management for the Texas Groundwater Conservation Districts. While enjoying retirement in October 2014 a district in Springtown, Texas came calling for Richard and his many years of experience. So for five months he commuted to Springtown, enjoying every minute and opportunity to share his knowledge and experience with the people of the Upper Trinity GCD.

Richards is well known and respected for his knowledge of Texas groundwater and was the very first president of the Texas Alliance Of Ground Water Districts from 1988 to 1990, and again 2003-2005. He has worked with the Legislature and many other districts throughout the state for many years, he has been a Director of the Texas Water Conservation Association since 1982 and president 1992-1993, a Director of the National Ground Water Management Districts Associations and president in 1988 and 2001, and a member of the Tarleton State University Hydrology Advisory Council since 1989.

Richard had a great love and respect for the most natural resource in the state, but he will be most remembered as a family man of faith, one who loves his kids, grandkids, and great grandkids, never having a loss of words, serving his community and fellow man, and always looking forward to meeting you.

Dad you will always be loved and missed and your legacy will live to eternity.

In lieu of flowers, and on behalf of Richard, we ask that you quit wasting your water and turn it off, then go hug your kids.

Visitation will be Wednesday, November 18, 2015 from 5-7 p.m. Rosary will follow at 7:00. At Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home. Funeral services will be on Thursday, November 19, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. at the St. John’s Catholic Church in Marble Falls, Texas. There will be another service for Richard on Friday, November 20, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at the First Methodist Church in Pampa, Texas burial to follow at Fairview Cemetery in Pampa, Texas.

Arrangements by Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home in Burnet, Texas. Condolences may be made at www.clementswilcoxburnet.com.