Dr. Edward Lee (“Doc”) Bowlus passed away peacefully at the age of 98 on July 11,2023, at Brookdale Senior Living of Mt. Vernon, Ohio.
He was born Jan. 18th, 1925 in Akron, Ohio to Ruth Elizabeth (Wheeler) and Arthur Claggett Bowlus. His family moved to New Concord, Ohio, when Ed was in the sixth grade. It was then that he met his future wife, Mary Eleanor Steele. He graduated from New Concord High School in 1943, and worked a few months at the Hercules Motor Corp. in Canton producing materials essential to the War effort. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1944 and sent to India to work as a hospital technician. He was discharged in 1946. On Aug. 27, 1947 he married Eleanor Steele with whom he celebrated 75 years of marriage last August.
Ed graduated from The Ohio State University in 1951 and the School of Veterinary Medicine in 1953. After study and thought, Ed and Eleanor chose the Village of Fredericktown for Ed to start his Veterinary practice in 1953. He was a member of the Knox County Veterinary Association, the Ohio Veterinary Medicine Association, and the American Association of Veterinary Medicine. He served on the Knox County Board of Health for 25 years, 17 of which he served as President. He served as Fredericktown’s veterinarian for 36 years and was recognized by the Ohio House of Representatives and Representative Eugene Byers for his service on the occasion of his retirement in 1989.
Ed was a lifetime reader and learner. He served on the Fredericktown District Board of Education in the late 50’s. Ed and Eleanor were passionate travelers having visited numerous states including Hawaii, and Alaska, as well as the countries of Australia, New Zealand, Egypt, Greece, Switzerland, Austria, France, England, Scottland, Canada, Russia, and China.
As a teenager, Ed developed a love of magic and over the years became an amateur magician giving shows and astonishing his friends for decades. He was a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians.
Ed was a lifetime member of the Methodist Church. He served on finance and trustee committees of the Fredericktown United Methodist Church (now Cornerstone Community Church) and taught courses as well. He sat on the committee that oversaw the move of the Methodist Church on Fredericktown’s Square to its location on Columbus Road. Ed loved people and loved to laugh. He believed in the healing power of laughter. He started collecting jokes as a young adult and later created his own ministry of “funny bone” letters that he sent to people he thought needed a laugh.
In addition to his wife, Ed is survived by sons, David (Michelle) Bowlus, John (Bonny) Bowlus, and daughter, Mary (Bill) Elder; Grandchildren, Scott Bowlus (Deb Chute), Scott (Julie) Holtje, Dawn (Mike) Jones, Jessica (Brian) Anderson, Liz (Joe) Hayford, Laura (Jamie) Sanders, and Tim (Heather) Elder; Great Grandchildren, Bailey, Lucy, Haley, Haden, Spencer, Ella Grace, Tatum, Brady, Kay, Rene, Josie, Elli, Levi, Ana, Aly, and Ian.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Friends may call on Friday, July 14, 2023 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Cornerstone Community Church, 123 Columbus Road, Fredericktown, Ohio 43019 and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. A funeral service will follow on Saturday beginning at 11 a.m. with Rev. Gary Campbell and Rev. Jerry Ernest officiating. Burial with military honors provided by the Knox County Joint Veterans Council will follow in Forest Cemetery in Fredericktown.
Memorial contributions in Ed’s name may be made to the Cornerstone Community Church Building Fund or Hospice of Knox County.
To share a memory or leave a condolence for the family, visit www.snyderfuneralhomes.com
The Snyder Funeral Home of Fredericktown is honored to serve the family of Dr. Edward Lee “Doc” Bowlus.
Funeral home : Snyder Funeral Home of Fredericktown