FAIRBANKS, ALASKA MONDAY, JUNE 27, 1955
Tanana River Searched for Man's Body

George Bowers, about 55, civil aeronautics administration mechanic at Tanana presumably drowned early Sunday morning in the waters of the Tanana, about 5 miles from Fairbanks. Bowers and Sgt. John Wheeler, of the 5001st Air Installations squadron at Ladd AFB were taking the former's motor boat to Tanana when Bowers slumped over the motor. The boat went into a spin, said Wheeler, and capsized. Wheeler said he did not see Bowers come to the surface. The accident occurred an hour after the pair had left Fairbanks. "I was at the how, looking for snags, when I heard a groan from the stern. I saw Bowers slump over the motor. Then the boat turned over," said Wheeler, who lashed about in the water, hanging onto the boat, for almost two hours before climbing onto a sandbar. Sunday afternoon the 74th Air Rescue squadron was notified by CAA personnel in Nenana that Bowers had not arrived there. The rescue squadron was told there was only one man in the boat. The search plane, piloted by Major T. L. Twyford, spotted Wheeler on the sand spit and notified Nenana. Henry Olson and Jerry Gulp, of the CAA, set out from there, arriving at Wheeler's haven at about 5:30 p.m. It was learned only then that there had been two men in the boat. and a helicopter of the 74th ARS, in addition to a paramedic ground crew, are now searching the river and shoreline for Bowers Motor Boat. It was reported by Wheeler that Bowers had been trying for some time to buy a motor boat in Fairbanks. He was notified Saturday that his purchase was finally available. "He asked me to help him take his boat home to Nenana," said Wheeler. Bowers had been in Alaska for over 30 years and was a member of the Pioneers' Igloo in Nenana. He was with the CAA's river transportation unit in Nenana for four years. Born in Klichitat, Wash., Bowers had moved through many communities of Alaska during his residence here. He was chief of police at both Nome and at Nenana several years ago and was also a policeman in Anchorage said Olsen, his employer was CAA. Bowers is survived by a sister Mrs. A. J. Taylor, of Sacramento Calif.
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The body of George Bowers, 51-year-old civil aeronautics administration employee at Nenana who drowned in the Tanana river June 26 when his boat capsized about 25 miles from Fairbanks I was recovered early Saturday morning from the slough across from the mouth of tie Nenana river. A coroner's jury was held in Nenana Saturday and a verdict of accidental drowning was returned. Bowers' sister, Mrs. A. J. Taylor of Sacramento, Calif., arrived in Nenana Sunday .for funeral services which were conducted by Bishop Francis Gleason in the Catholic church. Burial was in Nenana. In addition to his sister Bowers is survived by three sons; Jack, with the army in Wiesbaden, Germany- John and Ray in Silverton, Oregon; -three married daughters, Edith, Georgia and Dorothy in Klamath Falls, Oregon, and several grandchildren. He also leaves two brothers; Joe and Walter in Sacramento and a grandfather, -George Premo of Amasa, Michigan. Bowers, who was born In Klickitack, Wash., January 10, 1904, had been in Alaska for 40 years. He was once chief of police in Nome and also in Nenana, and was on the Anchorage police force at one time. He was a member of the Elks and Moose lodges in Anchorage, the Rod and Gun clubs of Glennallen and Nenana and the Pioneers of Alaska, Igloo 17, Nenana.
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Son of:
George "Joe" Oliver Bowers Sr. (1869 – 1949) &
Edith Ida Premo (1882 – 1933)

Sibling of:
Mabel Louise Bowers (1901 – 1972)
Edna May Bowers (1907 – 1933)
Joe Lenoin Bowers (1912 – 1978)
Walter Verlin Bowers (1914 – 1963)

Spouse:
Genevieve Wilma Richards (1905 – 1994)
*Children:
CSM Jack Leroy Bowers (1925 – 2011)
Dorothy Louise Bowers (1928 – 1994)
Suzanne May Bowers (1931 – 2004)
Georgia Ann Bowers (1933 – 2010)
John Theodore Bowers (1935 – 2008)
Roy Bowers (1936 – 2013)