Hugh MacLean Bower

Hugh MacLean Bower died October 16, 2012, at age 93. Through the grace of God, he was mindful and loving until the very last days of his life, living with his wife of 31 years, Sally. Born August 23, 1919, in Flushing, New York, son of Mable MacLean of Nova Scotia and Lester Nelson Bower of New York, he came of age during the Great Depression. He graduated from Columbia University with a major in English, was on the varsity heavyweight rowing crew for three years, and was a member of Alpha Delta Phi. He was a lieutenant during World War II, including service in Pearl Harbor and Guam.

He began a sales career at Lord & Taylor then joined Hallmark Cards, managing sales regions in the Northeast. He eventually moved to the company's headquarters in Kansas City to lead the entire marketing division as vice president, working to improve sales professionalism, dealer training, and strategic partnerships with retailers, while making breakthroughs in racial and gender hiring. The New Yorker had become a Midwesterner, along the way having married Frances Rock and raised five cherished children. He retired from Hallmark in 1981 and then learned to be a Texan when he married Sally Leatherman Wolf, who owned a card and gift store chain in Dallas, Houston and Fort Worth.

They worked together to grow her company then moved to a ranch in Marysville and raised cattle. He also continued consulting and training before retiring again to San Antonio. He was a board member of the Executive Service Corps of San Antonio, a group of corporate executives helping nonprofit agencies to increase effectiveness.

In 2009, he published a spiritual memoir of this lifelong journey titled "Found!"

He is survived by his beloved wife, Sally Bower; his children and stepchildren, Sheri Rosen, San Antonio, David Bower, Dallas, Sharon Daspit, Brenham, TX, Debra Lundblad, Niceville, FL, Bruce Bower, Hollis, NH, Hugh Bower Jr., Tacoma, WA, Don Wolf, Woodland Park, CO, Mark Wolf, Winchester, KY, 18 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

CELEBRATION OF LIFE

TUESDAY

OCTOBER 23, 2012

10:00 A.M.

UNIVERSITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

5084 DEZAVALA ROAD

Interment in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to U-Groups ministry, University United Methodist Church, 5084 De Zavala Road, San Antonio, TX 78249.