LANETT — Mr. Ralph Bowers, 89, of Lanett, Ala. passed away on Monday, April 16, 2018 at his residence.

Mr. Bowers was born in Lanett on August 21, 1928 to the late Roy Ralford Bowers and Sadie DeLoach Bowers.

Mr. Bowers had retired from the Liberty National Life Insurance Company after 30 years of service.  He was a sales agent for 14 years, then promoted to sales manager for 16 years.  He qualified for the company’s Torch Club 16 times during his tenure.  He was awarded the National Quality Award 14 times.  He was a 20-year member of NALU, a Lute graduate and a graduate of several home office training schools. Prior to his employment with Liberty National, he had worked for the West Point Manufacturing Company for 12 years.

After his retirement from Liberty National, he worked as a funeral director with the Johnson Brown-Service Funeral Homes for 16 years, until he retired again in 2003.

He was a member of the Lanett Kiwanis Club, where he had served as president, vice-president, and was treasurer of the club for many years.

He was a very active member of the Lanett First United Methodist Church, where he had served as a member of the official board since 1953.  He taught Sunday school in the junior and senior high departments, had been a member of the happy medium class since 1952 and a member of the adult choir since 1962.

He was an active volunteer for the Lanier Memorial Hospital since 2010.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Frances J. Bowers; daughter, Pamela Bowers Young and sister, Celia Bowers Landreth.

He is survived by his son, Tim (Joan) Bowers, Trussville, Ala.; a granddaughter, Fran (Corey) Welch, Goode, Va., a great-grandson, Mason Welch, Goode, Va.; several nieces and nephews, and a special son-in-law, Coleman (Karen) Young, St. Johns, Fla.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 20, 2018 at 11 a.m. EDT at the Lanett First United Methodist Church with interment following in Hillcrest Cemetery.  The Rev. Reid Turner will officiate.  His family will be receiving friends at the Johnson Brown-Service Funeral Home in Lanett Thursday evening from 6 p.m. EDT until 8 p.m. EDT.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made in his name to the Lanett First United Methodist Church.

Johnson Brown-Service Funeral Home of Lanett is directing.