David P. Bowsher

David Paul Bowsher, 64, of Dover, OH passed away peacefully Saturday, November 2, 2013 at the Cleveland VA Medical Center following an extended illness.

Born in Cleveland on March 8, 1949, he was the son of the late Homer and Gladys (Hufford) Bowsher. He is also preceded in death by his infant sister, Naomi Bowsher, and a favorite uncle, Clifford Bowsher.

David attended Uhrichsville High School and at the age of 18, enlisted in the United States Army. After basic training, he was accepted into Warrant Officer Candidate School in Fort Rucker, AL to become a helicopter pilot. He received additional flight training in Fort Wolters, TX before being deployed to Vietnam where he flew helicopters during the war. After a year in Vietnam, David was stationed in Germany for three years where he was promoted from Chief Warrant Officer 2 to 1st Lieutenant. After his active duty, he continued his military flying career with the Ohio National Guard at Akron-Canton airport where he was promoted to the rank of Captain. David held various civilian aviation positions as well, including as a flight instructor at Harry Clever Field in New Philadelphia where he also served on the airport board. He always enjoyed the annual Pancake Breakfast and Fly-Ins held there, and one year, he won a trophy for the best-overall and best-in-show for his 1948 Ercoupe, which he had restored himself. He would invite family and friends to fly with him on many summer afternoons in that plane. In addition to aviation, some of David's other interests were classical music, model trains and reading science fiction.

David will be sadly missed by his sister, Ruth (Steve) Brown of Bluffton, SC; brother, James (Cindy) Bowsher of Dover; nieces and nephews, Bryce Brown of Bluffton, SC, Shannon Brown of San Francisco, CA, Laura (Jonathan) Seiverth of Perrysburg, OH and Dr. James (Amanda) Bowsher of Indianapolis, IN; great nephew and niece, Andrew and Sedona Seiverth of Perrysburg, OH.

Honoring David's wishes, cremation has been entrusted to the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory in Dover. A memorial service will be held at the funeral home on Saturday, November 16, 2013 at 4:00 pm with Pastor John Wallace officiating. Friends are invited to call at the funeral home one hour prior to the service. Inurnment will take place at Union Cemetery in Uhrichsville where the Newcomerstown Veteran Honor Guard will conduct military honors in a private ceremony.

To sign the online guestbook for David, visit the "Obituaries & Flowers" link on the funeral home's website.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the following organizations are suggested:

Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675, Independence Fund, 32379 Collection Center Drive, Chicago, IL 60693-0323, or the Fisher House Foundation, Inc. 111 Rockville Pike, Suite 420, Rockville, MD 20850-5168.