Obituary for Melvin Myrle Bowers, III
Chief Petty Officer Retired, Melvin Myrle Bowers, III, 47, of Charlestown, WV, passed away of a heart attack on Monday, April 10, 2023 while living in the Philippines.
He was born on February 10, 1976 in King’s Daughters Hospital in Martinsburg and was the oldest son of Melvin M. Bowers, Jr. and Linda Bowers and Rose and Todd Clark.
Melvin attended St. Joseph Elementary School, North Junior High School and was a 1994 graduate of Martinsburg High School. While at Martinsburg Mel was a member of the Air Force JROTC program where he excelled and became the Commander. Mel also played little league baseball as well as in the Berkeley County youth soccer league.
While still in high school Mel joined the Army Reserve in which he served until May 14, 1995. On May 15 Mel joined the United States Navy in which he served proudly for 18 years attaining the rank of Chief Petty Officer. Mel was deployed with special forces around the world, although he himself was not in special forces, as well as with members of other countries special forces as part of his job, which he was not allowed to discuss. He worked at the NSA for several years, around his deployments. He served in Iraq, Afghanistan as well as in other countries where his specialty was needed receiving several citations for his work. Unfortunately, due to the nature of his work the majority of the citations were redacted. Mel retired from the Navy with PTSD as a direct result from action in Afghanistan. Mel moved to Texas to be near three of his children, trying to find peace, and then he moved to the Philippines in 2022 to be with his significant other Frayolen. Here he was finally able to find peace with himself and the world.
Mel loved to hunt and fish and was making plans to return for this year’s deer season.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by his seven children, Shawn, Melvin, Ashley, Hope, Brenden, Ethan and Brian; and one grandson, Jackson.
Mel is also survived by his brother Joseph A. Bowers; two sisters, Shirley M. Koch, and Jennifer M. Holder; two nephews, Robert and Andrew; one niece, Erica; and three loving aunts Mary Millay (Aunt Kak) (Tom), Jo Solano (Jo Jo) (Jay) and Joy Vitanza (Joy Joy); and two uncles Rodger Shackelford and Robert Shackelford (Karen) as well as several Cousins.
Mel was preceded in by his paternal grandparents, Mel and Mae Bowers, as well as his maternal grandparents, George and Neda Shackelford; two uncles Richard and Russell Shackelford; and a brother-in-law Richard Holder.
Family will receive friends on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Brown Funeral Home.
Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 at 1:00 pm at Brown Funeral Home with Father Thomas Gallagher celebrant.
Interment will be in St. Leo Catholic Cemetery.
Arrangements made by Brown Funeral Home.
He was born on February 10, 1976 in King’s Daughters Hospital in Martinsburg and was the oldest son of Melvin M. Bowers, Jr. and Linda Bowers and Rose and Todd Clark.
Melvin attended St. Joseph Elementary School, North Junior High School and was a 1994 graduate of Martinsburg High School. While at Martinsburg Mel was a member of the Air Force JROTC program where he excelled and became the Commander. Mel also played little league baseball as well as in the Berkeley County youth soccer league.
While still in high school Mel joined the Army Reserve in which he served until May 14, 1995. On May 15 Mel joined the United States Navy in which he served proudly for 18 years attaining the rank of Chief Petty Officer. Mel was deployed with special forces around the world, although he himself was not in special forces, as well as with members of other countries special forces as part of his job, which he was not allowed to discuss. He worked at the NSA for several years, around his deployments. He served in Iraq, Afghanistan as well as in other countries where his specialty was needed receiving several citations for his work. Unfortunately, due to the nature of his work the majority of the citations were redacted. Mel retired from the Navy with PTSD as a direct result from action in Afghanistan. Mel moved to Texas to be near three of his children, trying to find peace, and then he moved to the Philippines in 2022 to be with his significant other Frayolen. Here he was finally able to find peace with himself and the world.
Mel loved to hunt and fish and was making plans to return for this year’s deer season.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by his seven children, Shawn, Melvin, Ashley, Hope, Brenden, Ethan and Brian; and one grandson, Jackson.
Mel is also survived by his brother Joseph A. Bowers; two sisters, Shirley M. Koch, and Jennifer M. Holder; two nephews, Robert and Andrew; one niece, Erica; and three loving aunts Mary Millay (Aunt Kak) (Tom), Jo Solano (Jo Jo) (Jay) and Joy Vitanza (Joy Joy); and two uncles Rodger Shackelford and Robert Shackelford (Karen) as well as several Cousins.
Mel was preceded in by his paternal grandparents, Mel and Mae Bowers, as well as his maternal grandparents, George and Neda Shackelford; two uncles Richard and Russell Shackelford; and a brother-in-law Richard Holder.
Family will receive friends on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Brown Funeral Home.
Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 at 1:00 pm at Brown Funeral Home with Father Thomas Gallagher celebrant.
Interment will be in St. Leo Catholic Cemetery.
Arrangements made by Brown Funeral Home.