Robert Thomas Sowers

Robert (Bob) Thomas Sowers of Indianapolis and Kingman, Indiana passed into heaven on October 26, 2013. Bob was born on June 8, 1924 to Victor (Slayback) and Goldie Thomas Sowers in North Terre Haute and graduated from Kingman High School in 1942. He served in WWII in the Army Air Force 4145 Base Unit, repairing combat-damaged planes in Tucson, Arizona and serving post-war in the Philippines. On April 3, 1949, Bob married Betty Jo Patton of Browns Valley and they raised three girls: Kay (Rich) Plew of Melbourne, Florida; Jayne Sowers, Ph.D., of Chicago; and Jo Ellen (Alan) Weems of Whiteland. He had four grandsons, Jason and Jeffrey Plew, and Tyler and Nathan Weems, and three great-grandchildren, James, Rebekah, and Thomas Plew. Bob owned and operated Sowers' Dri-Gas (Thermogas) Service in Kingman, providing propane gas for home heating and corn drying throughout a large rural area in western Indiana. After retiring, Bob and Betty Jo, a former elementary teacher at Southeast Fountain School Cooperation, enjoyed a winter home in Florida. Betty Jo passed away on July 21, 1997. Bob's memberships included the American Legion, Kingman Town Clerk, and treasury and elder of the Kingman Christian Church. On September 26, 2002, Bob and Carolyn (Miriam Crabb) Coats of Indianapolis were married. They enjoyed traveling together, including fulfilling one of Bob's lifelong dreams of traveling through the Panama Canal. Carolyn has one son, Charles (Becky) Coats, M.D. and their daughters Alexis and Arianne. Bob's sister, Phyllis Stevenson, of Noblesville survives, as do numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Monday, October 28 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. followed by a short service at Epworth Methodist Church, 6450 Allisonville Road, Indianapolis.

On Tuesday, October 29 calling will occur at Sanders Funeral Care, 203 S 1st Street, Kingman from 12:30-1:30 p.m. followed by a service. Interment will be at Roselawn Cemetery in Terre Haute.

Donations can be made in lieu of flowers to: the Wounded Warriors Project P.O. Box 758517 Topeka, Kansas 66675, helping injured soldiers returning home; Gleaners Food Bank 3737 Waldemere Ave Indianapolis, IN 46241 , a community food bank; or Imagination Library for Fountain Co. c/o Danville Area United Way, 28 W. North St., Suite 102, Danville, IL 61832 providing books for low-income preschool children in Fountain County.

Services in Indianapolis are entrusted to Flanner and Buchanan - Broad Ripple. www.flannerbuchanan.com

Services in Kingman are entrusted to Sanders Funeral Care. Share memories and condolences online at www.sandersfuneralcare.com