Orville R. Bowers son of Leora Bryant was born Jan. 11, 1943 in rural Sycamore, Kan. in Montgomery County and passed away at the Andbe Home in Norton, Kan. on Oct. 19, 2020 at the age of 77.

Orville grew up in Sycamore and Ottawa Kan.  He served in the United States Navy.

On March 24, 1978 he married Marilyn Magill. Together they lived mostly in the Hoisington and Great Bend communities, where Orville worked for the railroad. Following his retirement the couple moved to Almena, Kan. They helped raise two of their grandchildren, Brandon and Dalton McDowell in that home.   

Orville had a passion for hunting, fishing, and buying/selling stuff. He enjoyed gardening and caring for his animals.

Following Marilyn’s death in 2013 Orville continued to live in Almena with his grandchildren until his health required him to move into the Andbe Home in Norton in 2018.

Survivors include his four children, Brian McDowell of Garden City, Kan., Teresa Strickland of Lyons, Kan., William David McDowell of Colorado, and Denise Ryan of Ledyard, Conn.; 12 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and a host of other family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; and his wife Marilyn Kay Bowers.

Cremation was planned. A private family inurnment will take place in the Mt. Hope Cemetery, Almena, Kan. at a later date. Any donations can be sent to Orville Bowers Memorial Fund at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, Kan.

Funeral arrangements provided by

Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel

P. O. Box 563 

Phillipsburg, KS  67661

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Oct. 23, 2020