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MAJORS DAVE AND JEANNIE BOWLER |
Majors Dave and Jeannie Bowler retired recently after many years of service together as Salvation Army officers.
Prior to their marriage, Dave and Jeannie both served as officers for some years. When they wed in 1984, Dave was the general supervisor at the Long Beach ARC and Jeannie worked in the Youth Department at THQ.
After a short time at the San Jose Corps, the Bowlers were reaccepted as officers and sent to begin the work in the Yuba City, Marysville, Calif. area. After much work and prayer, the Yuba-Sutter Corps opened in 1989. After five years, they transferred to San Francisco as city coordinators.
The following year they became corps officers in Spokane, Wash. Next they moved to Mesa, Arizona, where they stayed for over three years before moving to their final appointment in Grand Junction, Colorado.
Dave was born in England to Salvationist parents. In 1968, he immigrated to the U.S. with his first wife, Pat, and they entered training the following year. They served in corps appointments in the Northwest Division and as divisional youth leaders in the Southwest Division.
Jean Swanson grew up at the Sheboygan, Wisconsin corps. In 1959, she married John Potts.
The Potts served in several corps appointments in California before moving to the Southwest Division as youth leaders in 1968. Shortly after arriving, John was killed in a plane crash while en route to music camp. Jean remained as divisional youth secretary for one year, and then retuned to Sheboygan, Wis., where she served for four years.
In 1973 Jean returned to California and held several appointments. While serving in Long Beach in 1981, she met Dave Bowler. In 1984 they married and began a new phase in their lives, serving God together. In all, Jean served as an officer for over 38 years and Dave for over 28 years.
A celebration of service was held at High Peak Camp in Estes Park, Colo., with Lt. Colonel Kurt Burger presenting the retirement certificates.
The Bowlers’ retirement address is P.O. Box 2171, Deer Park, WA 99006.