Donald “Skip” Bowsher Jr., 90, died March 29 at Salina Regional Health Center. Born Nov. 7, 1923 in Sandusky, Ohio, he was the son of Donald Allison and Frances (Corbeille) Bowsher. On April 5, 1953, he married Twila Ulrich in Quinter. A longtime Great Bend resident he was he was co-owner and operator for Cheyenne Hardware and owner and operator of Sentry Hardware in the Westgate Shopping Center, retiring in 1985. His Sentry Hardware store was the first in the state of Kansas.
Mr. Bowsher was a lieutenant junior grade flight instructor in the United States Navy during World War II. He was a member of the American Legion Argonne Post 180, Elks Lodge #1127, Lake Barton Golf Club, and Radio Controlled Airplane Club. He played drums in a Navy band and also dance bands when he came home. He was an avid bowler, loved to build things in his workshop, enjoyed a game of cards, and dancing to Big Bands at the Great Bend Municipal Auditorium. He drove the mini-bus for the Great Bend Senior Center, and was an avid photographer his entire life, developing his own pictures in his home darkroom. Spending time with his family was a priority, following son Mark to motorcycle races and son Keith to rock band gigs. Each summer he took his family on a trip. He also had the Jumpin’ Gyminy Trampoline Center in Great Bend, and was a PTA officer at Morrison School.  
Survivors include his wife, Twila Bowsher, of the home; two sons, Mark Bowsher and his wife Marg of Richmond, Texas and Keith Bowsher of Lawrence; and two grandchildren, Kevin Bowsher of El Segundo, Calif. and Lindsey Bailey of Sugarland, Texas. He was preceded in death by one sister, Betty Yetschke; and two half-sisters, Vickie Cole and Sherry Barnett.
Graveside services will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday with the Rev. Stan Crawford officiating at the Great Bend Cemetery with military rites by the United States Navy Honor Guard. The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, at Bryant Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to the American Heart Association or St. Rose Foundation for the benefit of Heartland Cancer Center, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net.
            
Funeral arrangements provided by     
Bryant Funeral Home**         
1425 Patton Road       
Great Bend, Ks. 67530
Great Bend (Kan) Tribune, April 13, 2014