Mr. William H. "Bill" Bowers (lovingly known as Papaw) ,86, of Sugar Grove, West Virginia, died peacefully at his home on Thursday, September 22, 2011, with his wife, Ruth (Nana), of sixty-one years, by his side. Bill was born at his home on December 20, 1924 in Sugar Grove, West Virginia. He was the second of three children of the late John Roy Bowers and Erma Sylvia Hoover Bowers. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sister, Mary Florence Heatwole. He graduated from Augusta Military Academy in Fort Defiance, Virginia in 1942, and thereafter applied and was accepted to the University of Virginia's Medical School. However, because of the draft, his education at UVA was put on hold. Following boot camp, he was sent to Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, for training as a radio-radar operator in the U.S. Army Air Corp during WWII. Following his career in the military, he returned to UVA and finished his education with a Bachelor of Art's degree in Psychology in 1949. He was a member of the Thomas Jefferson Society. He returned to Sugar Grove and in 1950, married Ruth E. Sponaugle, who survives, as well as two sons, William Harvey Bowers, Jr. of Wasilla, Alaska and Jeffrey S. Bowers of Sugar Grove, West Virginia, two grandchildren, J. Stuart Bowers II of Sugar Grove, WV and Liz Bowers Somerville of Franklin, WV, and one brother, John Roy Bowers, Jr. of Sugar Grove, WV. Bill was a lifetime member of Francis Asbury United Methodist Church and served as Superintendent of Sunday School for 25 years; Charter Member and Past President of the Sugar Grove Lion's Club; George Washington National Forest Warden for 30 years; a member of the Pendleton County Farm Bureau, where he served as President and Director; a Commissioner for the WV Dept. of Natural Resources from 1978 through 1985; area President from 1970 - 76 of the WV Soil and Water Supervisors; Chairman of the Planning Commission; Past President of the Thorn Spring Park Association. He was instrumental in organizing both the Treasure Mountain Festival and Pendleton Nursing Home (now Pendleton Manor); served for 26 years on the Board of Directors for RMC, Inc., a division of Rockingham Milling, Rocking "R" Hardware and Ram Supply in Harrisonburg, VA and served on committees with the Pendleton County Agriculture Soil Conservation Service (ASCS) and WVU Extension Service. The family will receive friends on Sunday, October 2, 2011 from 2:00 - 3:00 PM at Living Faith Church, Franklin, West Virginia. Rev. Cynthia Skinner and Pastor Stephen Teter will conduct a memorial service at the church at 3:00 PM. Military honors will be accorded by the Pendleton County Veterans Honor Guard at the church immediately following the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Rockingham Memorial Hospital, 2010 Health Campus Drive, Harrisonburg, VA 22801 or the Outpatient Therapy Dept. of Pendleton Manor, P. O. Box 700, Franklin, WV 26807.