ESCONDIDO — Services were held in Campbellsville, Ky., and Norwalk for William M. Bower, 89, a former Escondido resident. He died Sept. 19 at Taylor County Hospital in Campbellsville.
He was born May 14, 1890, in Letcher, S.D., and served in the U.S. Army in World War I. He was a division civil engineer for the Richfield Oil Co. for 27 years before his retirement.Mr. Bower had been a member of the Los Angeles Symphony and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. He composed the march that won a contest and was featured at the World's Fair in San Francisco in 1915. He was a chief musician-arranger for Hollywood film maker D.W. Griffith and his compositions have been played by the Chicago Symphony.
In addition to conducting several orchestras and choirs, Mr. Bower was author of the book "Modern Concepts of Music." He and his wife, the former Helen Frazee, produced numerous articles, five books and 38 religious songs.
His wife died June 25, 1960.
During his later years, he made his home at Campbellsville and was a member of the Campbellsville Baptist Church.
Surviving are three daughters, Becky Mann of Campbellsville, Ruth Vasquez of West Covina, and Lois Rollins of Massillon, Ohio; tow sons, Richard L. Bower of Campbellsville and David Bower of Norwalk; 15 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and a cousin, Bulah Zimmer of Escondido.
Burial was in the Inglewood Cemetery in Los Angeles County.
Times-Advocate (Escondido, California) - Thursday, October 4, 1979
