Paul R. Bowser, 78, of Olive Street, Karns City, went to be with the Lord Friday afternoon at Butler Memorial Hospital.

Mr. Bowser was born in Buffalo Township on Feb. 8, 1934. He was the son of Herbert and Hannah Hooks Bowser.

He was a Protestant. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, watching AMC Movie Classics and was an avid NASCAR fan.

He was a U.S. Navy veteran and belonged to the Roy Calvin McGinnis VFW Post 7073 in Parker.

Mr. Bowser retired from the construction industry and worked out of Local 323 Laborers Union.

He was married in Adrian, Pa., on March 6, 1958, to Mary “JoAnne” Barger. She preceded him in death in 2009.

Surviving are three daughters, Brenda Reitler and her husband, Edward “Tutse,” of East Brady, Susan D. Kelley and her husband, the Rev. Jeffrey, of Fertigs, Pa., and Barbara Ion and her husband, Tracy, of Karns City; 19 grandchildren, Jamie, Jason, Andrea, Angela, Brooke, Jeremiah, Gina, Shaun, Dustin, Sarah, Ashley, Brittney, Chris, Carrie, Sean, Rachel, Shayne, Jayden and Gracie; 15 great-grandchildren; one brother, Glenn Bowser and his wife, Stella, of Adrian; two sisters, Helen Beckett of Slate Lick and Jean Sachik of Kittanning; and a number of nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

<B>BOWSER</B> — Friends of Paul R. Bowser, who died Friday, April 13, 2012, will be received at the <B>Hile Funeral Home of Chicora</B>, 339 Chicora Fenelton Road, Chicora, from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, where funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. with the Rev. Jeffrey Kelley, Mr. Bowser's son-in-law, officiating.Memorial contributions in Mr. Bowser's memory may be made to the Fertigs Church of God of Prophecy, 112 Winwood Lane, Venus, PA 16364, or to the Zion Assembly Church of God, PO Box 337, Karns City, PA 16041.Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.hilefh.com.