Walter Louie "Buddy" Bowers April 26, 1934 - November 2, 2016 Macon , GA- Walter Louie "Buddy" Bowers was called to eternal life on November 2, 2016. A Celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, November 6, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Macon Memorial Park Funeral Home with the Rev. Baxter Hurley and Rev. Dianne Sweckard officiating. Burial with Masonic Rites will be in Macon Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will greet friends on Saturday, November 5, 2016 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the funeral home. He was born on April 26, 1934 to the late Louie and Mattie Mae Bowers and lived in Macon all his life. Walter retired from Robins Air Force Base in 1996 as Chief of the F-15 TCG branch after working there for thirty years. The Central of Georgia Railroad employed him in the 1950's and 1960's where he worked in the electric department as a diesel electrician. He served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps in the 1950's with a tour in Europe. A believer in continuous education, Walter completed his undergraduate work at Mercer University in 1965 with a degree in Mathematics and Philosophy. He received his Master's Degree in Management from Georgia College and State University in 1975 and completed the Air Force War College extension course in 1978. Walter was a member of Forest Hills United Methodist church for 43 years. He served on several committees and was a teacher of the Burks Sunday School class. He also traveled with the church youth and his daughter to Kentucky and West Virginia to work with the Appalachian Service Project repairing houses. Walter volunteered for several organizations throughout his life. As an American Red Cross volunteer, he worked in disaster relief serving on the Red Cross local disaster team for fire victims and the Disaster Relief Team for local, state, and national disasters. In the 1970's he accepted the position of director of the Macon Midget Football Association where he enjoyed watching his son play. Walter was also a Stratford Booster Club president. He later coached his daughter's soccer team. He volunteered at the 1996 Olympic games in the Atlanta working at the baseball venue. A 33rd degree Mason, Walter was raised a Master Mason at Fort Hawkins Lodge in 1958. He later served as Worshipful Master for Fort Hawkins Lodge, Mabel Lodge, and William A Davis Daylight Lodge. He served as Grand Marshal of Georgia in 2005. He was also treasurer of Scottish Rite and Al Sihah Shrine. He transported children to the Shrine Hospitals in Cincinnati and Greenville over 80 times. Walter also served as Worthy Patron of the Fort Hawkins Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star and was a member of the Macon Chapter. Left to cherish his memories are his lovely wife of 58 years, Helen, his three children, Walter (Cindy) Bowers Jr., Janet (Jeff) Hale and Judy (Tom) Jones, ten grandchildren who were the joy of his life, Catherine, Cole, and Caroline Bowers; Lauren, Katie, Allie, and Jeffery Hale; Melissa, Michelle, and Matthew Jones, and sister, Joann Fountain, and brother, Wayne Bowers, and his caregiver, Jean Traore. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Pine Pointe Hospice, 6261 Peake Road, Macon GA 31210. Visit www.maconmp.com to express condolences Macon Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery has charge of the arrangements. View the online memorial for Walter Louie "Buddy" Bowers