Eddie graduated from North Side High School in 1962 and in 1966 graduated from Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio with a Bachelor's of Arts in Mathematics. He served in the US Army in the Vietnam War, and worked at Lincoln Life as a computer programmer. He retired early to focus on raising his two children, and as they grew older he became a volunteer teacher at Junior Achievement and a substitute teacher for Southwest Allen County Schools.
Eddie loved sports; a lifelong Detroit Tigers fan, he was the statistician for Wittenburg’s baseball team while enrolled, he played on Lincoln Life’s softball team, participated in multiple fantasy and rotisserie baseball and basketball leagues, played in several local golf and bowling leagues, and played in and was secretary of the Fort Wayne Lutheran Dartball League for many years. In recent years, he has been an avid bridge player at Fort Wayne Duplicate Bridge Club.
He had many hobbies; he obtained a commercial pilot’s license for small craft, and license for scuba diving. Eddie also loved traveling, especially to baseball parks and with his loved ones. He loved solving puzzles and mysteries, and enjoyed watching Jeopardy and tried to answer before contestants (and usually did answer correctly). He also loved playing poker, other card games, and board games. He loved cats and owned many over the years. More than anything, Eddie loved spending time with his family.
Eddie is preceded in death by his mother and stepfather, Esther and Henry Mueller: and his father, Bernal Bower. He is survived by his brother, Terry (Jann) Bower; his two sons, Merric and Matthew Bower; and his former wife, Linda Wright-Bower.
A memorial gathering will be on Friday, September 27, 2024, at D.O. McComb & Sons Funeral Homes - Covington Knolls, 8325 Covington Road, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46804, from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM, with a service to begin at 1:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Eddie’s name can be made to Heartland Hospice or Fort Wayne Animal and control.
