Raymond Roy Bower

 Ray went home to be with his Lord on Tuesday, April 11, 2017, in Pinehurst, NC, crossing the finish line of his 93-year race with distinction. Born and raised in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania, he was a life-long member of Mt. Lebanon United Presbyterian Church.  When his children were baptized, he recommitted his life to regular church attendance and modeled his commitment to Christ for the rest of his life. Ray served as an elder in the church and was a member of the 79’ers Sunday School Class. Although Ray was a competitive salesman and an avid sportsman, he refused to work on Sundays, because that day belonged to God! Ray graduated in 1946 from Westminster College in New Wilmington, PA, where he met his wife of 50 years, Mary Alsop.  Ray was a salesman and worked for different companies throughout his career. He preferred the role of a traveling salesman, because he did not like sitting behind a desk. His avocation was refereeing football and basketball, with football being number one!  Ray worked college football as a referee. Penn State, Pitt, West Virginia, Bucknell, Brown, Boston College, Columbia, Dartmouth, Harvard, Navy, Princeton, Rutgers, Syracuse, Temple, Villanova, Yale were all on his schedule. He received a Merit Award from the Eastern Athletic Independent Football Officials League (EAIFO) for his untiring, devoted and distinguished service to football as President of the Pittsburgh Chapter in 1973. He also worked the Army-Navy game in 1973. As Ray moved up the ranks to Division 1A NCAA football officiating, he was urged to move on to the National Football League, but true to his spiritual commitment, he respectfully declined the open NFL door. Penn State, West Virginia and Rutgers initiated a new intercollegiate league in 1975, which later included southern teams like Clemson and Eastern Carolina. Ray became a charter member of the Major Independents Collegiate Athletic Association.  He received a plaque for his service from 1975-1983 to that group in recognition of his outstanding service and commitment to the highest standards of professionalism and competence as a football official on behalf of Penn State, Pitt, Rutgers and West Virginia Universities and their Athletic Directors and Coaches. Ray was proud to referee several bowl games during his career, including Bear Bryant’s final game for Alabama, when they beat Illinois at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, TN on December 30, 1982. Ray was a short distance runner in his later years, preferring the 100 and 200 meter dashes.  He participated in the World Masters Track Competition in Eugene, Oregon, in 1989, where he met some Russian competitors, who were competing for the first time.  He and his wife, Mary, befriended the Russian athletes and were invited to visit Russia as their guests on several occasions.  The Russian athletes also visited Ray and Mary in Pittsburgh.  Ray competed in London, South Africa and Australia representing the United States for the World Masters Track and Field Competitions. He was most proud of being on the Gold Medal Relay Team at the XIII World Veterans Athletics Championship in Gateshead, England in 1999. Another high point was his victory in the 1999 Penn Relays Masters Men's 75-year old 100-meter race in front of 45,000 appreciative fans, urging Ray on to his world class victory. West Penn Track Club honored him as their Athlete of the Year in 1999 and 2000.Ray is predeceased by his wife of 50 years, Mary Alsop Bower, and his sister, Jane Slater, whose husband, Hank, resides in Pittsburgh.  He has one brother, Howard Bower, who lives with his wife, Doris, in Naples, Florida. Ray is also survived by his daughter, Susan Margaret Hudson, who along with her husband, David pastors Bethesda Presbyterian Church in Aberdeen, NC. Ray’s son, Philip Raymond Bower, a retired special education teacher, resides in Lawrence, PA, with his wife Patsy. Ray moved to North Carolina in 2013. While in North Carolina, Ray continued to exercise at the Senior Enrichment Center in Pinehurst and also competed in the Senior Games of Moore County. Ray stayed active in church whenever he could hustle a ride!   Ray has five grandchildren. Aaron and Benjamin Bower reside in Pittsburgh, PA.  Rebekah, Rachel and Mary Hudson live in Charlotte, Raeford and Chapel Hill, North Carolina, respectively. He also has three great grandchildren: Josiah, Judah and Shiloh, who are Ben and Jade’s children.  Ray was frugal and generous. A child of the depression, he knew how to save and make money, but was extremely benevolent to people in need.  Memorial donations may be made to Bethesda Presbyterian Church in Aberdeen, NC, or Mt. Lebanon Evangelical Presbyterian Church in his memory. There will be a service of celebration at Bethesda Presbyterian Church in Aberdeen, NC, on Friday, April 14, at 2:00 p.m.  In Pittsburgh, PA, visitation will be at Laughlin Memorial Chapel, 222 Washington Road, Mt. Lebanon,  on Wednesday evening, April 19th from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. with a service of celebration at Mt. Lebanon Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 255 Washington Road, at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 20th.

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