Donovan Hower Sr.
June 20, 1926 — July 9, 2010
Donovan E. Hower, Sr., 84, of McDowell, passed away Friday, July 9, 2010 at Augusta Health. Don was born June 20, 1926 in Juniata County, PA a son of the late Earl F. and Pauline (Gibbons) Hower.
He was a U.S. Navy veteran of WWII, having served during the battles of Okinawa and Iwo Jima. A graduate of Pennsylvania State University, he entered his professional life as a landscape architect with the Veterans Administration and in 1982 retired as the Director of Land Management. He was a member of The International Executive Service Corps and The Fairfax County Architectural Review Board. After moving to Highland County, Don was civic-minded and held offices in the county’s Planning Commission, Architectural Review Board and Chamber of Commerce. He was a member and elder of McDowell Presbyterian Church and belonged to The Highland Masonic Lodge. Don served on the board of trustees of The Shenandoah Valley Battlefield Foundation. He was an avid outdoorsman and nurseryman and owner of Gobblers Nob Christmas Tree Plantation.
He is survived by his wife and partner of 64 years, Gloria K. Hower of McDowell; son, Van Hower of McDowell; daughter and son-in-law, Lee and Tim Bucher of Linden; grandson, Patrick Bucher of Linden; two sisters, Marjorie Sneddon of Blue Bell, PA and Betty Kublick of Mechanicsburg, PA and brother, Frederick Hower of Lancaster, PA.
A memorial service will be conducted 1 p.m., Saturday, July 24, 2010 in the McDowell Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Beth Pyles officiating. Burial will be private.
Memorial contributions may be made to Highland County Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 268, Monterey, VA 24465 or McDowell Volunteer Fire Department, c/oDelbert Rexrode, 527 Windrush Lane, Doe Hill, VA 24433 or McDowell Presbyterian Church, c/oBeverly Thompson, P.O. Box 66, McDowell, VA 24458.