Leonard Bowers passed away the evening of Friday, October 16, 2026, at the age of 90.

Leonard was born to Stephen A. & Anna Bowers in New Haven, IN and was the 3rd youngest of eleven children. He grew up on a small produce farm where he helped with the gardening and raising of chickens and rabbits. He attended Central Catholic High School in Ft. Wayne, IN. After serving in the U.S. Army, stationed in Alaska, he attended and graduated from the Kentucky Barber College in Louisville, KY and was awarded a Master Barber license. He owned and operated two successful barber shops in New Haven.

Leonard married Barbara Brunner on October 25, 1958, and they celebrated their 66th Anniversary on October 25, 2024, just a few weeks before Barbara’s passing. They were blessed with 3 children, Jeff, Michelle and Scott. The family moved from New Haven, IN to Stuart, FL in 1973.

Upon moving to Stuart, Leonard received his Florida Master Barber license but decided he did not want to get back into the ownership of a barber shop. Having been raised on the produce farm and having been a Produce Manager of a Kroger’s Grocery store at the young age of 17, he took the position of Produce Manager at the local A&P/Piggly Wiggly in Stuart. 

Leonard was always good with his hands and was skilled at many trades. During those early years in Stuart, he built the family home from the ground up. He was very proud to have been able to perform many of the trades himself, including the plumbing and electrical. A few years later, Leonard joined his oldest son Jeff in a house painting business and became a licensed Master Painter. He got to work with both of his sons when Scott joined the business. They worked together for years until he decided it was time to “retire”. Even in “retirement” he liked to stay busy and be around people, so he went back to barbering on a part-time basis for a couple of years.

As a lifelong craftsman, Leonard spent a lot of time in his workshop doing woodworking. He made tables, wall calendars, kids rocking chairs and other things for family members. He really enjoyed the times working with his brother, John Bowers, when they came to FL on their annual seasonal visits. During the last several years of his life, he was devoted to producing wooden crosses. He made hundreds (or more) of them and donated them to St. Joseph Catholic Church Adoration Chapel.

He and Barbara did a lot of traveling! They went on many trips and cruises to destinations all over the US, Europe, Alaska and most of the Caribbean Islands! Many of those trips were with their brothers and sisters.

As a licensed, instrument rated private pilot, he truly enjoyed flying. What he really enjoyed was taking people for rides! From family members in FL and IN, to the parish priests – he would take them on rides and do flyovers of their houses so they could see them from the air!!

Another hobby was playing Blackjack – a game that he studied and practiced until he became an expert. He shared his knowledge of Blackjack with his sons and grandsons. He really enjoyed sessions “at the table” with his boys and other family members. He put his knowledge in a booklet that he shared with many family members as well.

Leonard was a very friendly, personable guy who made folks want to like him. He was a one-of-a-kind type of person, and he will be truly missed and fondly remembered.

Leonard was predeceased by his parents, his wife Barbara, his daughter Michelle and many of his siblings and in-laws. He is survived by his sons Jeff (Lisa) Bowers and Scott Bowers, his five grandchildren – Amanda Bowers Sowell (Stephen), JB Bowers (Sarah), Steve Bowers, Joe Tarascio and Nicole Tarascio Perry (Josh) – and eight great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Marie Chandler, his brother John Bowers (Carol), a sister-in-law Candy Trumbull, and many nieces and nephews.

A Catholic Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, November 6, 2026, at 9:30 AM at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Stuart, followed by a Visitation & Memorial at Forest Hills Funeral home in Palm City. (2001 SW Murphy Road, Palm City, FL)