Ronald E. Bowers

Ron Bowers, 82, passed away peacefully in his sleep on January 27, 2021 in St. Petersburg, Florida. Ronald Eugene Bowers was born in Appalachia, Virginia, to Pearl and Arthur Bowers on October 23, 1938. He graduated from Washington College Academy in eastern Tennessee. Ron moved to Orlando Florida, and soon after married Mary Lou Jarrett from Virginia. Ron and Mary Lou had two children, Jeff and Rhonda. Ron initially worked for The Martin Company. He and Mary Lou eventually opened a flower shop together where they had a very successful business. He later joined Florafax International Flowers by Wire and progressed to Vice President. After Florafax was sold, Ron became Operations Manager at the Micor, Div. of Ramada but he eventually had enough of corporate life and became a yacht captain, a role he enjoyed for twelve years. He worked as liaison between a yacht builder in China and the yacht owner for whom he worked. He captained yachts on the west and east coast, including throughout the Caribbean. His experiences as a motor yacht captain were published in 2013 in the novel he wrote and published, Adventures of a Hillbilly Yacht Captain. In 1989 Ron married Beverley Mitchell. From 1991 and 2001 he sold products to florists in central Florida. He left behind his wife of 32 years, Beverley; his son Jeff and his wife Mary; his daughter Rhonda and her husband Randy: two grandsons, Justin and Ronald (namesake); granddaughters Ashleigh, Caroline and Courtney; and seven great-grandchildren; Owen, Jack, Sebastian, Everett, Eleanor, Briggs and Elex. He will be buried with his family at the American Legion Cemetery in Big Stone Gap, VA, at a later date. The care of Mr. Bowers and his family has been entrusted to David C. Gross Funeral Home in St. Petersburg.