Judge Robert Lamar Bowers, Sr.

Judge Robert Lamar Bowers, Sr., died April 29, 2020. He was born July 5, 1926 in Gadsden, Ala., the youngest of five children to Arthur and Alice Bowers. After graduating from Gadsden High School, Bob attended Amherst College in Massachusetts before earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce and Business Administration in 1950 from The University of Alabama where he was a member of Pi Kappa Phi. He earned a Bachelor of Laws from The University of Alabama School of Law in 1954. He served in the U.S. Army in World War II in the European Theatre and again during the Korean Conflict as a First Lieutenant stationed in Germany. He then practiced law at Gerald and Bowers in Clanton from 1954 until 1964, when he was appointed district court judge for Chilton County. He served on the bench until 1981 and returned to private practice with his son, Robert, at Bowers and Bowers until his retirement in 2016. Bob was married for 67 years to Emma Frank “Frankie” McRae Bowers and they were the proud parents of Barbara and Robert. Bob and Frankie were University of Alabama Crimson Tide Football season ticket holders since 1957, enjoying traveling to home and away games, often in their RV, throughout their marriage. They also traveled the world and shared that love of adventure with their grandchildren. Bob was active in his community as a member of the Jaycees and the Kiwanis Club, and as a founding member of Chilton Civic Chorale where he enjoyed singing and performing in a number of productions. He was a longstanding member of First Baptist Church of Clanton where he taught an adult Sunday School class for many years and served as Deacon and was honored as Deacon Emeritus for his years of ordained service. Bob enjoyed singing in the First Baptist choir for more than 60 years. Bob is predeceased by his wife, Frankie. He is survived by his daughter Barbara Bowers Brewi and her husband, Bill; son Robert Bowers, Jr. and his wife, Kathy; grandchildren Jay Stauffer; Margaret Stauffer Burch and her husband, Hunter; Jessica Bowers Hopson and her husband, Josh; Hunt Bowers and his wife, Reed; and a great-grandson due in June to Jessica and Josh. The family expresses eternal gratitude to Bob’s caregivers, Nancy Dalton and Judy Holley, and to long-time secretary Pat Jones. In lieu of flowers, the family asks friends to consider a gift to the First Baptist Church Choir, the American Heart Association or the charity of their choice.