Homer Bowen ³⁴³

   Cause of his death was heart disease.

Omaha World Herald
Omaha, Nebraska
Sunday, July 25, 1943
p. 8

Druggist H. Bowen dies at Grand Island

Grand Island, Neb. -- Homer Bowen, 67, veteran Grand Island druggist, died Friday night in a local hospital after several days' illness with heart disease.

A native of Ohio, he was in the drug business in Wood River, prior to coming here in 1914. He was a past president of the Nebraska Pharmaceutical Association, past president of the Grand Island school board and twice a candidate for mayor.

*****
The Daily Independent
Grand Island, Nebraska
July 24, 1943
p. 1 & 2

Homer Bowen Is Victim of Heart Disease
Funeral Rites Tuesday for Veteran Grand Island Druggist

Homer Bowen, widely known Grand Island druggist, passed away shortly after midnight last night in a local hospital. He was 67 years old. Mr. Bowen had been in the hopsital for two weeks, following a heart attack. His home was at [1824?] West Division Street.

Funeral services will take place at 10 o'clock Tuesday morning in St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, with the Rev. E.C. Rourke officiating. Interment will be in Grand Island Cemetery.

Mr. Bowen was born January 22, 1876 at Vales Mills, O., to Jasper and Harriet Bowen. When he was 18 years old he came west with an uncle, Jerry Bowen, who founded a drug store at Wood River. Later Mr. Bowen taught school in that community, then was employed in the Grand Island postoffice and still later taught school at Phillips.

Interested in pharmacy, he took a course at Creighton university and on his graduation bought a store in Wood River. Later he moved to Cody, Wyo. to operate a store, and there was married to Miss Bertha Lindsay Brown on March 5 [sic?], 1912. Just before the marriage, he had bought a pharmacy at South Omaha, and the Bowens made that their first home.

Came Here in 1914

Two years later, in 1914, the Bowens moved to Grand Island, and Mr. Bowen began operation of the drug store at Fourth and Pine streets, which he operated until the time of his last illness. The store became so well known throughout this section of Nebraska that people got into the habit of speaking of "the Bowen drug store corner" with identifying that part of the business district.

Mr. Bowen was a past president of the Nebraska Pharmaceutical association, and also of the City Improvement association, of which he was one of the most helpful members for many years. Interested in politics, he was a past president of the Grand Island board of education. He was a member of St. Stephen's Church and at the time of his death was senior warden in the vestry. He was a member of Ashlar Lodge No. 33, A.F. & A.M., the Kiwanis Club and the Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Bowen is survived by his wife; one daughter, Mrs. James Bost of this city; three brothers, George Bowen of Ranier, Ore., Gomer Bowen of Vales Mills, O. and Walter Bowen of Columbus, O.; and two grandchildren, Judy and Jane Bost. A brother, Jerry Bowen, and two sisters, Laura and Emma, preceded him in death.

Visitation hours will be on Monday evening between the hours of 7 and 9 o'clock in the Livingston-Sondermann funeral home.

  Events

• He was described as having blue eyes.

• He worked as a school teacher and pharmacist. He was a candidate for mayor of Grand Island in 1939.

• He enjoyed flower gardening.

• He appeared on the census in 1880 in Vinton, Vinton County, Ohio. He lived in the household of his parents.

• He appeared on the census in 1900 in Vinton, Vinton County, Ohio. He lived in the household of his parents.

• He worked as an owner of a drug store in 1920 in Grand Island, Hall County, Nebraska.

• He appeared on the census in 1920 in Grand Island, Hall County, Nebraska.

• He appeared on the census in 1930 at West Division Street in Grand Island, Hall County, Nebraska.

• He appeared on the census in 1940 in Grand Island, Hall County, Nebraska. He was head of household and owned property valued at $8,000.

• He was a member of the Charter Commission of Grand Island, president of the Board of Education, a member of the Nebraska Pharmacy Association, first president of the Cosmopolitan Club, Kiwanis; Uni Club, Lincoln; AF&AM, treasurer; BPOE and vestryman @St Stephen's Episc Church.

• His obituary was published in the Omaha World Herald 25 July 1943 in Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska. p. 8

• He was buried at Grand Island Cemetery in Grand Island, Hall County, Nebraska.

Homer married Bertha Lindsey Brown, daughter of Capt. Jonathan Eden Brown and Adaline Aurilia Lindsay, 4 March 1912 in Cody, Park County, Wyoming.³⁶⁸ (Bertha Lindsey Brown was born 26 August 1874 in Del Rey, Iroquois County, Illinois,^355,369,370 died 17 January 1959 in Grand Island, Hall County, Nebraska ³⁷¹ and was buried after 17 January 1959 in Grand Island, Hall County, Nebraska at Grand Island Cemetery ³⁷¹.)