Roger Paul Mowry, 91, of Mansfield, Ohio passed away peacefully on July 30, 2026 surrounded by his loving family. He was first and foremost a kind and humble man. Those who knew him recognized him as a great listener, always preferring to hear a good story rather than tell one.
Roger was born November 22, 1934 to Elizabeth (Kleilein) Mowry and Harold Mowry and grew up in Ontario, Ohio. He attended Ontario schools from kindergarten through 12th grade and ran track and played baseball and basketball in high school. He remained a loyal attendee at Ontario sporting events throughout his life. He was raised on 20 acres in Springfield Township with a large garden and orchard where he gained a love for the outdoors and learned the value of hard work. After graduating high school, he worked in construction before joining the United States Army where he served for two years in Germany.
Once home from the Army, he married Sharon Lee Meier in 1959, and they raised three children together. They were dedicated parents and grandparents and lived life in a roll-up-your-sleeves and down-to-earth way. Roger and Sharon were partners in life and were role models for so many. They were active members of the Ontario United Methodist Church for over 50 years and participated in many mission trips together. They built a mobile food service business and worked side by side for over 30 years. Roger and Sharon took great pride in their family business and felt fortunate to offer work opportunities for so many local teenagers and young adults.
Once retired, they traveled a lot, but they loved their camping trips with their grandchildren more than any exotic destination. Roger was a family man and loved nothing more than hearing what his kids, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were doing in their lives.
Roger is survived by his three children: Ray Mowry and his wife Karen, Jamie Pope, and Susan Sukys and her husband Gregory Raines; his five grandchildren: Ashley Gentille and her husband Christopher Wilocki, Megan Gentille and her husband Eric Steigerwald, Ryan Mowry and his wife Heidi Sinavsky, Michael Mowry and his wife Liz Phan, and Zachary Pope; and his five great-grandchildren: Veda & Sawyer Wilocki, Forest & Reese Steigerwald, and Amelia Mowry.
He is predeceased by his parents, Elizabeth and Harold Mowry; his wife, Sharon Mowry; his siblings, Carol Mowry, Pauline (Mowry) Ling, Frances Mowry, and Carl Mowry, and his niece Kathy Lodwick.
Please join with family and friends in a Celebration of Life on Tuesday, August 25, 2026 at 2:00 PM at the Ontario United Methodist Church, 3540 Park Ave. West, Ontario, OH 44906. In lieu of flowers, plant a tree, hug your kids, share a kindness or just smile when passing a stranger. Roger would have loved that.
