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MENTONE – Phyllis J. Bowser, 97, of Mentone, passed from this life into the arms of the Lord on Friday, March 22, 2024, surrounded by family.
Phyllis was born on Oct. 18, 1926, in Nappanee, to the late Fred D. and Lois L. Hill Lemler. She was a 1944 graduate of Mentone High School. She was married on Dec. 30, 1945, in Mentone, to A. Wayne Bowser, who preceded her in death on March 3, 2002.
Phyllis loved the Mentone community. She and her husband were the former owners and operators of L&B Foods of Mentone. She also was a former Avon representative as well as a paraprofessional for Mentone School and assisted at the Bell Memorial Library. She was a lifetime member of the First Baptist Church of Mentone. She was also a founding member of the Jolly Janes Home Economics Club and a Worthy Matron of the Eastern Star. She was honored as Mentone Egg Festival parade marshal in 2023 and was awarded for her dedication and volunteerism by Mentone Chamber of Commerce. She enjoyed singing, knitting, reading, scrap booking, golf cart rides and staring at the stars. But most of all spending time with her family and her grandchildren.
She is survived by her children: Victoria and husband Charles Swihart, of Rochester; Debra Reed, of Mentone; and Frederick Bowser, of Akron; grandchildren: Angela, Steven, Rebecca, Edward, Dathan, Terra, Ryan, Brent, Alyssa and Le’Erick; several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; and a sister, Leah Nell and husband Stanley Yeiter, of Atwood.
Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Wayne; son-in-law, Terry Reed; and daughter-in-law, Lana Bowser.
The funeral service will take place at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 28 at King Memorial Home, 101 N. Tucker St., Mentone, with Pastor Samuel Yeiter officiating. The interment will take place in the Mentone Cemetery, Mentone, next to her husband. Visitation hours will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 27 at King Memorial Home, Mentone.
Memorial contributions can be made in her memory to the First Baptist Church of Mentone.
Share a memory or send an online condolence at www.hartzlerfuneralservices.com.
