By Frederick N. Rasmussen , fred.rasmussen@baltsun.com|September 20, 2009
Robert Stanley Bower, the pastor of Harundale Presbyterian Church for more than three decades who enjoyed flying Piper Cubs, died of heart failure Sept. 11 at the Glen Burnie Rehabilitation Center. He was 89.
Mr. Bower, the son of Irish immigrant parents, was born and raised in Niles, Ohio. After graduating from Niles High School in 1939, he enrolled, with the financial backing of his Sunday school teacher, at Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pa.
He dropped out of college and enlisted in the Army Air Forces during World War II. He learned to fly from a student of the Wright brothers, family members said.
Assigned to the 9th Air Force in Europe, Mr. Bower flew Douglas Invader A-26 and Mitchell B-25 bombers.
Mr. Bower flew 37 combat missions, compiling 135 combat hours over France and Germany. He attained the rank of lieutenant, and his decorations included the Bronze Star Air Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters.
After the war, he returned to Westminster College, where he earned his bachelor's degree, and in 1949 he earned a divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary.
He was ordained by the Baltimore Presbytery in 1949 and was appointed associate pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Allentown, Pa., a position he held until being named pastor of Harundale in 1954.
"He served the church faithfully for 32 years as full pastor during substantial growth, financial struggle and tragic structural fires while effectively guiding its evolution into a strong church," said a son, David Alan Bower of Chesapeake, Va.
At the time of Mr. Bower's retirement on Dec. 31, 1985, he had built the church's congregation to more than 800 members.
"Bob built this church into a huge family, and they really love one another," said current pastor, the Rev. Tracy K. Davenport. "When I came here two years ago, he and his wife were so supportive and encouraging."
She credited Mr. Bower's "marvelous sense of humor" and "outgoing personality" as assets that "helped him build the church's congregation."
Even though he had retired, he still attended and remained active in the church.
"He'd come back and conduct funerals for longtime members," Ms. Davenport said.
Mr. Bower's pastoral interests included youth ministry and interdenominational worship services.
Lois McCarren, a Glen Burnie resident, has been a member for 43 years.
