W. Thomas (Tom) Bowers
W. Thomas (Tom) Bowers was born on August 19, 1931 in Crumpton, Md. Tom graduated from this life to heaven on Thursday, December 30, 2021.
Tom's life centered on God, Family, Church, Community and his two favorite passions, police work and home improvements.
He enjoyed listening to Southern Gospel Music, Great Preaching, watching his children and grandchildren grow and develop professionally. Tom enjoyed many things, among them, playing baseball, softball, boxing, vacations to various places with his wife Ruth and family and tending to his lawn. He enjoyed serving his God, serving, and fellowshipping with his church family, and serving his community. Tom enjoyed eating at any time, with seafood being his favorite, especially fish.
After high school he entered the US Air Force serving for 4 years. In 1956, he met and married his wife of 65 years, Ruth Ann of Sudlersville, Md. He joined the Smyrna Police Department and started a family. With Smyrna PD, he started as a patrolman rising to the rank of Lieutenant. After a short time away from police work, he became the Chief of Police in Clayton, Del. and retired in 1986. He also worked full time as the owner of Toms Home Improvements, painting homes and making repairs throughout the greater Smyrna-Clayton area.
Tom was saved as a young man, attending churches in Maryland and Delaware. He served as a board member, Sunday School Teacher, Sunday School Superintendent and on various committees. He and Ruth have attended Calvary Wesleyan Church for 40 years, where Tom served as an Usher for many of them.
He also coached the Jaycees and Farmers Bank teams in Little League baseball for the Smyrna Clayton Little League Association, earning several championships, started a one-of-a-kind boys and girls club for the youth of Clayton, was a member of the Delaware Police Chiefs Council, a Special Life Member of Citizens Hose Company No I Inc., Smyrna, Del., serving 14 years as Trustee, appointed Sergeant at Arms numerous times and 28 years as Delaware State Fire Police Officer. He was a Life Member of the Kent County Fire Police Association serving 5 years as the Training Officer and as Assistant Chaplain for several years. In 2015 he was named Delaware State Fire Policemen of the Year for Kent County Delaware. Tom was the recipient of many awards for his police work and community leadership.
Tom is survived by his wife, Ruth; daughter, Kim (Dave); sons, Blake, (Debra) Jeff (Wanda) and Gordon. He is also survived by 7 grandchildren, 4 great grandsons, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his 3 brothers, 4 sisters and great grandson Brooks H. Krahwinkel.
Services for Tom will be at the Calvary Wesleyan Church, Delaware Avenue, Harrington, on Thursday, January 6, 2022, at 12 noon, a visitation for family and friends will start at 10 a.m. A private interment will take place at Sudlersville Cemetery.
Arrangements are entrusted to the Thomas E. Melvin & Son Funeral Home, please visit us at www.melvinfuneralhome.com to express or send condolences.