Lawrence E. Bower II, a dedicated staff member who for years worked as Rosse Hall/Storer Hall building manager, died Feb. 7 at the age of 71. A resident of Mount Vernon, he started at the College in 1989 and retired more than 25 years later in 2016.
Born Feb. 14, 1954, in Mount Vernon, Bower was the son of the late Lawrence Bower and Dolores Young Bower Heagren. He graduated from Mount Vernon High School in 1972 before serving in the U.S. Navy and later attending Ohio University. For many years, Bower owned and operated The Donut Hole on Main Street in Mount Vernon.
At Kenyon, Bower was a hard worker who grew quickly into his job as Rosse Hall manager and was proactive in suggesting more efficient ways to organize both materials and events taking place through the music department, according to Professor of Music Benjamin “Doc” Locke.
“He was on call for many, many evening and weekend concerts, and was often the first person to welcome outside artists when they arrived to practice and perform in our spaces,” Locke said. “Larry made the lives of all of our ensemble directors easier through his weekly setups and teardowns of chairs, stands, podiums and percussion equipment for our regular rehearsals. We all remain grateful for his long and dedicated service to Kenyon.”
When Bower was honored for his 25 years of service in 2014, Professor of Music Reginald Sanders pointed out the important and extensive nature of his work.
“For the Music Department alone you have seen the program grow from a handful of concerts and recitals to dozens during an academic year, including larger and more complicated setups for the Kenyon Community Choir, the Knox County Symphony, and the Symphonic Wind Ensemble,” he noted at the time.
Outside of work, Bower had a deep appreciation for history and collectibles. He was an avid auction-goer and antique collector, and he served as president of the local numismatic club. He also was a member of the Grove Church of Christ and the Knights of Pythias.
A devoted family man, Bower is survived by his children, Haley and Skyler Bower; his sisters, Deborah (David) Rozanski of New Jersey and Kimberly Hill of Fredericktown; his brothers, Thomas (Connie) Bower and Robert (Jean) Heagren of Gambier; half-sister Becky (Bill) Metcalf, and several nieces and nephews.
A funeral service took place Feb. 14 at the Snyder Funeral Home–Lasater Chapel in Mount Vernon.