Thomas Eugene Bowler Sr.

Thomas Eugene Bowler Sr.

Washington

Thomas Eugene Bowler Sr., age 85, of Washington, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, January 28, 2024, following a lengthy illness.

Celebration of life services will be held at a later date. The Jones & Eden Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent for Tom’s family at www.jonesfh.com

Tom was born December 24, 1938, in Washington D.C., the son of Charles Elmer and Nellie (Higdon) Bowler. Tom was a 1956 graduate of Northwestern High School, University Park, Maryland. On November 28, 1959, Tom was joined in matrimony to Rosella McLeod, in Riverdale, Maryland.

Tom and Rosella brought their sons to Marion, Iowa, in 1975, and then moved to Littlestown, Pennsylvania in 1986 to be near family, finally returning to Washington, Iowa in 2006, for retirement.

Tom was a lifelong fan of antique cars, hand-built hot rods, and street rods. Anything that “popped, banged, moved, and made noise” was perfect, but his true fondness was for anything related to Model T Fords or Hudsons, lending a hand and sage advice to anyone in need. He was a true 1950s hot rodder, crewing for top fuel dragsters in his youth. He was especially fond of his 1923 Model T depot wagon (known by his grandsons as Grandpa’s Red Wagon), his 1954 Ford Club Coupe, and his 1933 Terraplane 8.

He is survived by his wife Rosella of Washington, Iowa; son, Thomas Jr. of Brighton, Iowa (Barb); son, John of Ottumwa, Iowa (Janeane) and his grandchildren Thomas III, Michael (Kelli), Christoper, Andrew (Katherine), Mark (Kallista), and his great-grandchildren Neiko, Ecco, and Ember.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Charles Bowler Jr, and Dr. John Bowler; and his daughter-in-law, Mary Lynn Bowler.