Donald F. Bowers

Donald F. Bowers, DDS., age 81, passed away on December 14, 2016 at Kobacker House. He was born in Columbus, Ohio to the late Donald and Helen Bowers. Dr. Bowers is survived by his loving wife, Theresa; children Bruce (Annie) Bowers, Paul (Karen) Royer, Mark (Deborah) Royer, Andrea (Norm) Pfaadt and Renee (Scott) Kasun; grandchildren: Keegan, Tucker, Darby, Garrett, Jordan, Tony, Ryan, Ethan, Grace, Rachel, Noah, Elyse, Adam, Zach and Callan. He is also preceded in death by his sister Patricia Bowers.

After graduating from Upper Arlington High School, he attended The Ohio State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree and then graduated from the OSU College of Dentistry as a member of Alpha Epsilon Delta honor society. Following eight years in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, he completed post-graduate training at Indiana University School of Dentistry and became a pediatric dentist. He was on faculty at both the OSU and IU dental schools as a pediatric dentist, and served as pediatric dental director at Children’s Hospital in Columbus for many years. From 1968 to 1973 he was a faculty member at the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry as professor of pediatric dentistry and chairman of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry. In 1973 he returned to the OSU College of Dentistry where he served the remainder of his career in several prestigious positions including chair of pediatric dentistry, assistant dean, and director of admissions. He was beloved by dental students for decades due to his mentoring skills, dedication, support and sense of humor. He held numerous leadership positions in dental organizations including president of the Columbus Dental Society, member of the Ohio Dental Association Executive Committee and editor of ODA publications for two decades.

Of the many awards he earned for his service to the profession, the highest was being a recipient of the ODA Distinguished Service Award, the highest state honor in the profession. He was a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American College of Dentists, and a charter member of the Ohio Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. An avid and award-winning writer, he wrote countless academic articles about dentistry for many publications, book chapters in dental textbooks, and co-authored the book “A Historical Remembrance of the OSU College of Dentistry.”

Family will receive friends from 2-5pm on Sunday at Schoedinger Northwest Chapel, 1740 Zollinger Road in Upper Arlington, Mass of Christian Burial, 11am, Monday, December 19, 2016 at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, 1559 Roxbury Road, Columbus, Ohio 43212. Monsignor Romano Ciotola, Celebrant. Private interment will be held at a later date, St. Joseph Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Central Ohio, 1379 Dublin Rd, Columbus, OH 43215 in his memory.