Richard S. Bowers

Richard S. Bowers, 70, of Burnet, formerly of Pampa and Dumas, died November 15, 2015 in Burnet. Services will be at 2:00 PM Friday, November 20, 2015 at First United Methodist Church in Pampa, with Rev. Ruby Moultrie, pastor, officiating. Graveside services will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Pampa, with Rev. Francisco Perez, pastor of St. Vincent dePaul Catholic Church of Pampa, officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Pampa. Richard Bowers was born September 13, 1945 to Paul and Janie Bowers of Pampa. Richard was born and raised on the farm near Pampa. He was a 1963 graduate of Pampa High School where he was also the National Secretary and American Star Farmer award winner for the Future Farmers of America. He attended Tarleton State University in Stephenville, graduated in 1968, and then returned to farming and ranching in the Pampa area. While farming and ranching in 1978 he also began working for the USDA Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service. In 1979, he was hired as the general manager for the Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District (GCD) in White Deer, Texas where he worked for eight years. He then moved to Dumas, Texas in 1987 to be the general manager for the North Plains GCD where he managed and lived for 20 years. In 2007, Richard and Gwen moved to Burnet, Texas where he assumed the general manager position for the Central Texas GCD. In August of 2011 he officially retired with over 32 years of management for the Texas Groundwater Conservation Districts. While enjoying retirement in October 2014 a district in Springtown came calling for Richard and his many years of experience. So for five months he commuted to Springtown and enjoyed every minute and opportunity to share his knowledge and experience with the people of the Upper Trinity GCD. Richard was well known and respected for his knowledge of Texas groundwater and was the very first president of the Texas Alliance of Ground Water Districts from 1988 to 1990, and again 2003-2005. He worked with the Legislature and many other districts throughout the state for many years, he had been a Director of the Texas Water Conservation Association since 1982 and president 1992-1993, a Director of the National Ground Water Management Districts Associations and president in 1988 and 2001, and a member of the Tarleton State University Hydrology Advisory Council since 1989. He was a member of Our Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church in Burnet. Richard had a great love and respect for the most natural resource in the state, but he will be most remembered as a family man of faith, one who loved his kids, grandkids, and great grandkids, never having a loss of words, served his community and fellow man, and always looked forward to meeting you. Dad, you will always be loved and missed and your legacy will live to eternity. He is survived by his wife Gwen of 38 years, his daughter Debi Opiela and husband Dennis and their daughters Amanda and her sons Evan and Mason, Kara and her daughter Chloe, and Haley, and their sons Devin and Josh, all of Crosby; his son Paul Bowers and wife Sondra and their sons Justin and Ryan, all of Jacksonville, Florida; his daughter Kim Wimmer and husband Calvin and their sons Brody and Colton, all of Los Angeles, California; his son Brian Harris of Baytown; his son Noel Bowers and wife Karina of Houston; his brother J. P. Bowers and wife Pat and their son Chris and daughter Sharon, all of Houston; and his brother Charles Bowers and wife Janyth and their sons Chandler, Chance, and Collin, all of Pampa; nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, and on behalf of Richard, we ask that you quit wasting your water and turn it off, then go hug your kids.