Rosemary Bower

Rosemary Bower (Mann) faithful wife, loving mother, and loyal friend, passed away on October 28, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio at the age of 85. The only child of Preston and Maude Mann, she was born on November 12, 1940 on her grandparent's farm in Salyersville, KY. Her childhood summers were spent enjoying the gentle hills of eastern Kentucky with her cousins and being doted on by her many aunts and uncles. Her family settled in Hillsboro, Ohio when she was nine years old. At the age of eleven, Rosemary was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and although it was a disease with which she had to live, she never lost her optimistic spirit. She graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1958 followed by two years at Elkhart University in Indiana. In 1962 she began rewarding work as a lab technician in the hematology department at Ohio State University in Columbus. In 1968 she moved to Toronto, Canada, where she worked at the Hospital for Sick Children and took classes at Thames Valley Bible College and New Tribes Mission. Through her time in Columbus and Toronto, she developed her love of travel and adventure and created friendships that grew into a lifetime of loving correspondence.

Content with the single life, that changed when she met Harry Bower of Ada, Ohio in the summer of 1972. Harry and Rosemary were married in December of that year and remained faithful spouses for over 50 years. They had three children, Paul, Daniel, and Pamela, and were later blessed with Rosemary's pride and joy, her nine grandchildren.

Rosemary faced many physical challenges yet they did not keep her from loving life. In addition to trips to Asia, she traveled from coast to coast and from the Great Lakes to the desert southwest throughout the United States. She enjoyed activities and good conversation with her many church friends. Her home was filled with many books, board games, T.V. mysteries, and music, and she was never known to turn down a baked dessert, especially if it was chocolate.

Serving her church and raising her family were her priorities and her relationship with Jesus Christ was most important to her, providing a steadfast anchor and guiding light throughout her life.

Rosemary is preceded in death by her parents and her beloved husband, Harry. She is survived by her three children and their spouses, Paul and Ling, Daniel and Etsumi, and Pamela and John, and nine beloved grandkids: Ethan, Anna, Audrey, Cody, Payton, Matthew, Kate, Sarah, and Jane. We all miss her but are at peace knowing she is with Jesus.

Friends may gather to pay their respects and celebrate their memories at First Baptist Church of Glen Este, on Thursday, November 5th from 5:00 until 8:00 PM. The funeral service will be on Friday, November 6th, at 10:00 AM followed by burial at Batavia Union Cemetery.