Ronald N. Bowers
RONALD NELSON “HAMMY” BOWERS was born in 1933 in Philadelphia to William Armstead Bowers and his wife, the former Helen Clark, who were both originally from Delaware. He had an older sister, Vivian. His early years were spent in Philadelphia.
Coming to Camden in the 1940s, Ronald Bowers was a 1952 graduate of Camden High School. His family was then living at 741 Chestnut Street. His high school sweetheart was a member of his graduating class, Bernice Z. Reed. They were married in 1955. Ronald Bowers went into the Navy after graduating high school. By 1955 his family had moved to 605 Walnut Street.
After coming out of the Navy, Ronald and Bernice Bowers made their home at 617 Clinton Street. He was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on June 29, 1962. After completing training Ronald Bowers was assigned to Ladder Company 2. He served over 35 years with different companies throughout the city.
Ronald and Bernice Bowers had four daughters, Fern, Ronda, Vivian, and JoAnn. Sadly, Mrs. Bowers passed away in December of 1986.
In 1994 Ronald Bowers served at Engine Company 3 under Captain Richard Carver, with firefighters Robert Allen Sr. and Charles Arline. He retired on February 1, 1996.
Ronald N. “Hammie” Bowers passed away on March 21, 2018 at the age of 84.
Club Valentionos
Camden Courier-Post —
CLUB VALENTIONOS, composed of teenage youth organized and supervised by city policeman Louis Walls, worshipped at the Chestnut Street UAME Church Sunday morning. The age group is 14 to 18.
Officers are William Kenton, president; Ronald Bowers, secretary; John Johnson, treasurer, and Fred Pratt, master-at-arms.
Camden High School Purple & Gold Yearbook
1952
Named: Camden High School Purple & Gold Yearbook, 1952, and Ronald N. Bowers and Bernice Z. Reed.
Ronald M. Bowers to Wed Miss Bernice Z. Reed
Camden Courier-Post —
RONALD M. BOWERS, on furlough from a Navy base in San Francisco, son of Mr. and Mrs. Armstead Bowers of 605 Walnut st. will wed Miss Bernice Z. Reed, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Reed Sr., of 707 Central ave. Monday.
The Rev. J. A. Nimmo, pastor of the Tenth Street Baptist Church, will officiate in home of the bride’s parents at 4 p. m. A dinner will follow attended by immediate relatives of the contracting couple.
Miss Reed will wear a beige colored spring suit featuring a fitted coat and slim skirt, with brown accessories. She will hold a white Bible and wear a double orchid corsage. Mrs. William Reed Jr., her sister-in-law, serving as bridesmaid, will wear a grey suit with charcoal accessories, adorned with a corsage of red rosebuds. Clarence Womack, cousin of the bride, will serve as the best man.
The groom-elect, native of Philadelphia, recently returned from Korea. Miss Bowers was graduated in 1952 from Camden High School.
5 Area Men Win Navy Promotion
Camden Courier-Post —
The Navy Department has recently announced the promotion of five local men following Navy-wide examinations conducted in February.
Ronald N. Bowers, of 605 Walnut st., was promoted to pipefitter 3/c at Astoria, Oregon.
9 Firemen Graduate In City Test
Camden Courier-Post —
Graduation exercises for nine of the city’s newest firemen were held Tuesday in headquarters at 3rd and Arch Streets under direction of Public Safety Director Bedell and Fire Chief Edward R. MacDowell.
The graduates and their assignments are Joseph Anderson, Canterbury Apartments, No. 1 Ladder; Prescott Johnson, 1238 Kenwood Avenue, No. 8 Engine; Philip Maycott, 1023 North 32nd Street, No. 9 Engine; George Getty, Canterbury Apartments, No. 2 Engine; Ronald Bowers, 617 Clinton Street, No. 2 Ladder; William Young, 3167 Westfield Avenue, No. 2 Engine Company; Wayne Kraft, 1052 N. 35th Street, No. 3 Ladder; Raymond Eldridge, 7 North Dudley Street, No. 7 Engine; and Donald Goehringer, 30 North 24th Street, No. 7 Engine Company.
They will receive a starting salary of $4,800. Chief MacDowell said this brings the department to 170 hosemen and to 224 total personnel in the department.
All nine were graduated after receiving three weeks of training at the fire school under the direction of Captain Leo J. Tompkins.
Their training also included two days at the Navy Fire School at the Philadelphia Naval Base.
Fireman Injured At S. Camden Blaze
Camden Courier-Post —
Ronald Bowers, 30, of 617 Clinton st., a city fireman, suffered a severely cut hand yesterday in trying to open a storm window at a South Camden home to reach a mattress fire in a second floor bedroom.
Bowers, a ladderman with No. 2 Engine Company, was treated at Cooper Hospital where eight sutures were necessary. The mattress fire at the home of Mrs. Clara Bailey, 607 Pine st., was extinguished within 10 minutes with slight damage to the interior of the bedroom.
2 Are Injured In Crash of Cars And Fire Engine
Camden Courier-Post —
Two persons were injured slightly yesterday when Fire Company 2 hook and ladder engine and a car were in collision at 9th Street and Kaighns Avenue.
Ronald Bowers, 33, of 617 Clinton Street, driver of the fire apparatus, was taken to West Jersey Hospital for observation of neck and back injuries, while Patricia Greer, 23, of 504 Broadway, Westville, driver of a compact car, was treated at the hospital for a head bruise and released.
Ptl. Charles Voll of the Accident Investigation Division said both vehicles were badly damaged and had to be towed away. He said the fire apparatus was en route to an alarm from 1965 Park Boulevard, a call which turned out to be a fire possibly caused by an overheated gas heater.
Ladder Company 2 & Engine Company 8
1970s
Named: Front Row: Ronald Bowers, Philip Bocelli
Second Row: Charles Greene, Robert Welch
Third Row: John Nicholson
Fourth Row: Ronald Angemi, and Woody Brzozwoski.
Engine Company 8
1970s
Ronald Bowers — Ronald Angemi
Bowers
Camden Courier-Post —
BOWERS — Bernice. Of 7154 Rosemont Ave, Pennsauken. On December 11, 1986. Age 52 years. Survived by husband Ronald, four daughters, Fern, Rhonda, Vivian and Joann, one granddaughter, sister, Miss Arlene Reed. Relatives and friends are invited to attend funeral services Wednesday 8 p. m. in the Tenth Street Baptist Church, 1860 S. 10th St., Camden, where friends may call after 6 p.m. Interment Evergreen Cemetery, Camden. Services under the direction of the CARL MILLER FUNERAL HOME.
Circa 1990
Ronald Bowers — circa 1990
Camden Fire Department Reunion Dinner
Seated at bar: Ron Bowers, Paul Matyjasik, Ernie Gribaudo
Standing: Bill O’Dennis, Jim McMaster, Tony Logrando, Paul Capizola
Camden Fire Department Reunion Dinner
Named: Joe Marini, Ron Bowers, Ron Angemi, James Robinson, and Bob Williams.