Hobart Bower

A memorial service for Hobart Ray Bower, age 91, of Newark. Ohio will be held on July 12, 2025, at the First United Methodist Church, 88 North Fifth Street, Newark, Ohio with Pastor Barbara Wood Salyers and Pastor Peter Borhauer officiating. Calling hours are from 10-12. The Masonic service to begin at noon along with the memorial. Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington VA. where military honors will be observed.

Ray passed away June 8th. He was born October 20, 1933, in Norton, KS to his late parents, Hobart J. and May M. Bower. Ray graduated from Norton Community High School in 1951, the University of Kansas with a B.S. in Business in 1956 and completed his Masters in Business Administration at Golden Gate College in 1966. He was commissioned a 2nd Lt. through the Air Force Reserve Officers Training program upon graduating from K.U. Prior to going on active duty in the Air Force Ray worked as a park ranger in Yellowstone Park. Ray retired as a Major from the U.S.A.F. after 20 years serving his country in Arizona and Texas where he completed pilot training; in Germany, California, Vietnam, where he was in the Air Force elite Air Commandos flying 484 combat missions; Panama with the Air Commandos where he trained Paraguayan A.F. pilots and flew for the Organization of American States during the ‘Soccer War’ in Honduras, South Dakota and Ohio. He also flew many missions during the Cuban crisis.

Ray was a command pilot with more than 5000 flying hours in 11 different types of aircraft. His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Flying Cross, the nation's highest award for heroism, and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight, Bronze Star Medal with five oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, the Combat Readiness Medal, the National Defense Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with two service devices, the Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with four oak leaf clusters, the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

After Ray retired from the Air Force he worked at Shepherd Hill Hospital for 23 years as a Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor. Ray was a member of the First United Methodist Church. He was a life member of Disabled American Veterans, Military Officers Association of America, Air Force Association, Distinguished Flying Cross Society, Vietnam Veterans of America, Air Commando Association, Friends of The Licking County Library, and Kansas University Alumni Association. A member of Kansas University K-Club (football), Naphtali Lodge 310 AF &AM, Almena, KS, Scottish Rite Valley of Orient of South Dakota, Royal Arch Mason Black Hills Chapter No. 25, Cryptic Mason Black Hills Council No. 3, Knight Templar Schrader Commandery, Rapid City, SD. and Naja Shriners, Deadwood, SD. Ray enjoyed playing golf, reading, oil painting, volunteering at the Licking County Library, and being a loyal Jayhawk fan.

Ray is survived by his daughter Cynthia (Cindi) Franklin and husband Eric of Anchorage Alaska, son David Bower and wife Annette of Powell Ohio, Grandchildren Seth and Gillian Franklin and Torre and Taylor Bower, and Significant Other Nancy Wortman.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Jean Bower and Brother Edward Jay Bower.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be given to Shriner's Hospitals or First United Methodist Church.

To sign an online guestbook, please visit www.brucker-kishlerfuneralhome.com.