Larry J Bowser

Larry J. Bowser, 67, of Girard, passed away on Sunday March 1, 2015 at Northside Hospital. He was born January 5, 1948 in Arnold, Pennsylvania, the son of the late Hulbert and Olive Flick Bowser. He was an Army Veteran during the Vietnam War. Larry worked as a custodian for Victory Christian Schools for 11 years and retired from Delphi Packard Electric in 2001 after 28 years on the assembly line. He was a member of First Christian Assembly Church in Liberty Twp. There are three words that best describe Larry: devoted, selfless, and loving. He was first and foremost devoted to Jesus and everything else flowed out of that. He worked selflessly for God in many capacities, usually behind the scenes. He cleaned the church, mowed the church yard, worked in the nursery, taught children's church and Sunday school, went on a missions trip, worked church dinners, helped build additions to the church, worked with the youth group, and worked with a county-wide youth Christian organization called Blast. For over 25 years, he and his wife have conducted a song service once a month at Omni West Assisted Living facility. Larry was devoted to raising his four children and loved them more than himself. Sports were prominent in the family and Larry never missed on of his children's games and attended many of the games of their friends. He coached baseball, softball, and basketball for many years. Larry has been devoted to his grandchildren and has always been the willing baby-sitter. He lovingly played dress-up, built tents, and anything else they wanted to do. As a custodial parent of his grandson Nathan, he again never missed an athletic event or school function, and again enjoyed going to the games of Nate's friends. He and his wife Joyce have been married fro 30 years and their love and devotion to each other grew stronger with each passing year. They were inseparable and worked tirelessly together, always encouraging each other in their faith. He selflessly opened his heart and his home to anyone who needed a place to live, whether it was for a few months or several years. He welcomed friends of his children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He even moved so he could bring his mother and mother-in-laws to live with him. The comment that has been made most about him was how deeply he loved everyone, including nieces and nephews, friends and even strangers. He would start conversations with everyone and in a few minutes he counted them as friends. He will be missed by many. His desire has always been that everyone would come to love the God he served. He is survived by his wife the former Joyce Ferrell whom he married January 12, 1985, children, Amy (Bruce) Montgomery of Austintown, Douglas (Leslie) Bowser of Hudson, Jeffrey (Marci) Bowser of Howland and Kevin Bowser of Girard, sister, Barbara Earley of Pittsburgh, Pa., brother, Ottis (Joyce) Bowser of Cranberry, Pa., five grandchildren, Kayla, Emily, Cortni, Nathan and Julia. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday March 7, 2015 at 12:00 noon at Pleasant Valley Evangelical Church in Liberty Twp. Family will receive relatives and friends from 11:00 am till time of memorial service at the church. The family request in lieu of flowers that any material contributions be mad to Teen Challenge C/O First Christian Assembly Church 3243 Cardinal Drive Youngstown, Ohio 44505. Visit www.blackstonefuneralhome.com to view this obituary and send condolences to the Bowser family.