William M. Bowers

William McMahan Bowers, age 93, of Webster, NY, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at Rochester General Hospital in Rochester, NY.

Born in Brooklyn, NY, on April 22, 1932, William (Bill) was the son of the late William James Bowers and Katherine McMahan Bowers (Drayton). From an early age, Bill knew city life was not for him. At just six years old, following a family visit, he asked to remain in Sevierville, TN with his grandparents, where he delighted in caring for his pet goat, helping on the farm, and learning the family’s brick masonry trade. His parents—and sisters, Carolyn and Jamesena—missed him dearly and convinced him to return north after completing fifth grade.

Bill’s return to Brooklyn was short-lived. During World War II, his mother supported the war effort by sewing military uniforms, while his father toured as an opera singer. Bill and his sisters moved to Cornwall, CT, to live with a family friend, Dr. Emily Pierson. Bill often spoke fondly of his years in Cornwall—working in the Pierson family’s commercial greenhouses, playing baseball and ice hockey, and attending movies and concerts. After the war, he returned to Brooklyn, where he continued to develop his love of music and baseball, graduating from Abraham Lincoln High School in 1951.

Following high school, Bill followed his passion for agriculture and boarded a train west to attend Iowa State University, where he majored in animal husbandry. He loved sharing stories of his coursework, Air Force ROTC experiences, fraternity life, and an eight-state tour of ranches and commercial farms throughout the West. After graduating, a conversation with a friend introduced him to a new enterprise affiliated with Cornell University—originally known as the NY Artificial Breeders Cooperative, later Eastern Artificial Breeders. That opportunity led to a 36-year career as a dairy cattle artificial insemination technician in Central New York. Highly respected for his skill and professionalism, Bill earned membership in the “100,000 Cow Club” and an all-expenses-paid trip to Madison, WI. The work suited him perfectly—he always led with a smile, enjoyed talking with farmers, watching their families grow, sharing laughs with his colleagues, and mentoring the next generation of technicians.

Through a mutual friend, Bill met Helen, a farm-raised secretary at Norwich Eaton Pharmaceuticals. On one of their first dates, they discovered a shared love of dancing. After an evening of enthusiastic jitterbugging at the Loomis Hayloft, Bill’s leather (yes, leather) pants famously split open as he jumped into the driver’s seat of his car. After laughter—and recovery from embarrassment—that night marked the beginning of a lifelong partnership. Bill soon asked Helen to marry him, and together they made their home in South Otselic, NY where they spent 54 wonderful years.

Bill was known for his “hard worker mentality” and wide-ranging interests. He balanced his career with golfing, playing guitar and singing at community events, gardening, playing ping pong, assisting with his son’s Little League teams, replacing broken garage siding and a window or two from wild pitches, and planning family vacations. After retirement, Bill and Helen moved to Webster, NY, to be closer to their son and his family. There, they cherished time with loved ones and rarely missed their grandchildren’s musical performances and sporting events.

Bill was predeceased by his beloved wife of 62 years, Helen O. Bowers. He is survived by his son, William J. (Theresa) Bowers; his grandchildren, Olivia and Max, all of Webster, NY; and his sister-in-law, Elaine Oros of Cincinnatus, NY. He also leaves behind several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Bill was the last surviving child of William and Katherine. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sisters, Carolyn Bowers and Jamesena “Jamie” Pagniez.

Memorial services will be announced at a future date. Burial will be in Valley View Cemetery in South Otselic, NY.