Permelia I. Bower, 90, of Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina passed away on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2017 at Transitions Life Care, Raleigh, North Carolina.
Permelia was born in Van Wert on Oct. 12, 1926 to the late Ronald and Okle (Gekler) Saum. She married John L. Bower Sr. on March 20, 1949 and he preceded her in death.
Permelia was a 1944 graduate of Crestline High School and Grant Hospital School of Nursing, Columbus. She was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church, Crestline.
Permelia retired from General Motor’s (formerly Fisher Body), Mansfield after 27 years. She was the first registered nurse hired during the construction of the plant and later served as Supervisor of Nursing.
Permelia was a member of the Bucyrus Chapter #3 OES, Bucyrus, American Association of Occupational Nurse Organization, Ohio AOHN and Central Ohio AOHN, one of the seven founders and chapter president of the Central Ohio Association, and a constituent of the Ohio Association of Occupational Health Nurses.
She served two terms as President of the Ohio AOHN, was a member of the Red Hat Ladies, and was a cadet nurse during World War II. Permelia took great pride in her family. She enjoyed genealogy and wrote a book, “The Descendants of the Immigrant, Nicholas Saum” and had an extensive family tree on the computer.
She is survived by her daughter, Petrieka L. “Petie” and Richard K. Huffman, of Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina; four grandchildren, Michaelene N. and Steven Mroz, of Charleston South Carolina, John R. and Leslie Huffman, of Charlotte, North Carolina, Carl P. and Traci Huffman, of Holly Springs, North Carolina and Lindsey N. and Stephen Murphy, of Apex, North Carolina; 11 great-grandchildren, Nicholas S. Mroz, Logan A. Mroz, Taylor N. Mroz, of Charleston, South Carolina, Abigail J. Huffman, Chauncey B. Huffman, Alexander D. Huffman, of Charlotte, North Carolina, Makayla F. Huffman, Makenzie G. Huffman, of Holly Springs, North Carolina, Olivia L. Murphy, Reagan H. Murphy, Isaac C. Murphy, of Apex, North Carolina; her sisters, Celestine Stewart, and Bonnie Lou Kemle, both of Crestline; and her brother, Ronald E. and JoAnne Saum, of Cortland.
Permelia was preceded in death by her son, John Lewis Bower Jr.; her sister, Maudine (Ferrell) Hunt; her brothers-in-law, Gale Stewart and Martin Kemle; and sister-in-law, Connie Saum.
Friends may call on Friday, Feb. 17, 2017 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Schneider-Gompf Funeral Home, 223 W. Main Street, Crestline. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017 at the Trinity Lutheran Church, Crestline, with Pastor Diana Seaman officiating.
Burial will follow in Greenlawn Cemetery, Crestline.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Trinity Lutheran Church, Crestline or Juvenile Diabetes Research in care of the funeral home.
Online condolences may be made to the family at masfh.com.
