Ronald "Ron" Lawrence Bower

Mar 2, 1944 -

Jan 4, 2023

Ronald "Ron" Lawrence Bower passed away at Mason General Hospital in Shelton, Wash., in January 2023, from restrictive pulmonary disease, end-stage Parkinson's and possibly from a broken heart as his son Peter died unexpectedly in December 2022. There will be a Celebration of Life at 1 p.m. on June 3, 2023, at First Presbyterian Church in Anchorage, Alaska.

In 1944, he was the first born child to Freeman and Bernice Moore Bower in Casper, Wyo. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy 1963, was stationed in Italy and Guam and separated from the Navy with an honorable discharge. In 1976, he headed to Alaska, where he went to work for Van Gas. He met Eutonna and Peter's mother, Ginnie, there. He ended his working career at McLaughlin Youth Center where he felt his greatest accomplishment was mentoring the young staff and encouraging them in their chosen career paths. He forged many strong, lifelong friendships at McLaughlin.

He married Rena in 2004 and took her on a journey of boating in Resurrection Bay and beyond. He called the YachtSea "our condo on the water" and they spent their time making wonderful memories entertaining family and friends and going to Ray's while in Seward. Ron loved the story of how Ben proposed to Kelsie on the 4th of July on the bow of the YachtSea under the Seward fireworks. He liked boat camping surrounded by the beauty of Aialik Bay with Gary and Hilda. When you could pull him away from Resurrection Bay, he enjoyed traveling to Cabo with all the kids and brother and sister; Colorado for his aunt Theresa's 100th birthday; New York for a niece's wedding; on a Viking River Cruise with Eutonna and Scott; and a trip to Lake Powell, renting a house boat with dear friends, Judy and Dean.

When the kids all announced they were leaving Alaska, and taking the grandbabies, Ron left his beloved Alaska and moved closer to family. As his health declined, he was grateful to be closer to family and the excellent medical care provided in Washington.

Ron is preceded in death by son, Peter; wife, Ginnie; and his parents. He is survived by his wife, Rena; daughter, Eutonna (Scott) Kirk; stepsons, Chan (Erin Bennett) Anderson, Ben (Kelsie) Anderson; grandkids, Beckett and Dashiell Anderson, Jane and Kate Anderson-Bennett, and Aiden Ginther; brother, Roger (Tami) Bower; sister, Karen Smith; nieces, Jennifer (Steve Mintz) Elliot, Lani Bower, Allison (Ross) Harmon; nephew, Doug Smith; great-nieces and -nephews; mother-in-law, Beverly Lehmann; and brother-in-law, Mark (Kim) Lehmann.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Michael J. Fox Parkinson's Foundation or a charity of choice. Cremation was performed by MCComb & Wagner Funeral Home and Crematory in Shelton.