David E. Sowers, USN, Ret.

Sadly, TDC David E. Sowers, USN Ret., passed away in San Antonio, Texas, on May 15, 2019, while visit family. He had been battling a long illness and his family was by his side when he went to the Lord.

David was born in 1940 to Ross and Clettie Sowers of Thomasville, N.C. He graduated from Thomasville High School in 1959 and joined the Navy in August of the same year. As a TD in the Navy he worked with flight simulators until he retired in June 1980 at NAS Whidbey Island, Oak Harbor, Wash. He followed this career with many more years in Civil Service, retiring for good in 2002.

David had resided in Oak Harbor for the past 45 years.

David married his high school sweetheart Carol Hampton in December 1960 and they had two wonderful sons. David loved camping, fishing and hunting with his family. His love of sports was evident in his participation in softball, bowling and helping to coach his sons in Little League sports. David was a diehard North Carolina Tar Heel basketball and Seattle Mariner fan … not a game went by that he did not watch or listen to it on the radio.

In retirement, he enjoyed traveling this great country in the RV with Carol and their trusty sidekick, Golden Retriever “Buddy.” David enjoyed spending time with Carol and their sons, loving his grandchildren and his great grandson.

David was preceded in death by his parents and older brother, Bill Garrett.

He is survived by his wife, Carol; their two sons, Dave (OHHS ’80), of San Antonio, Texas, and Carey (OHHS ’82), who resides in Beaverton, Ore.; three grandchildren, Krista (her husband Andy) in Virginia Beach, Va., Josh and Jenny, in Beaverton, Ore.; and a great grandson, Cooper, also in Virginia Beach. David is also survived by his sister, Imogene (Imer), in Thomasville, N.C.; nephew Doug and sister-in-law Gerry in Selbyville, Del.; and, finally, by many extended family in and around Thomasville, N.C.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the CPO Club ballroom, 2 p.m. Aug. 11, 2019. In lieu of flowers, the family requests, if you like, to make a donation to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society.