Mary Hirth Bowers passed from this earth on June 12, 2025, at Christiana Care Hospital in Wilmington, DE.  She was surrounded by her children and grandchildren. Her last hours were spent enjoying a chocolate shake and the singing of songs that she had sung to her children.

Mary was born on November 10, 1933, in Delaware, Ohio to Albert and Hellen Hirth. She grew up in Kilbourne, Ohio and attended Brown School where both her parents were teachers, and her father went on to be the Principal and Superintendent. As a child, she was a member of Jobs Daughters and the 4H Club. Mary particularly enjoyed spending summers in Koleen, Indiana with her extended family and reminisced fondly of these times throughout her life.

Mary attended The Ohio State University where she majored in Nursing. While in college, she met her future husband, Donald Bowers. As was typical throughout her life, Mary always had to sit near the band. Donald was a member of The Ohio State Marching Band, and Mary found herself sitting directly behind him at the Michigan game pep rally, where they met. Mary and Donald married in 1954. For their honeymoon, they traveled across the country to watch the Buckeyes play in the Rose Bowl in California. She continued as a student after their marriage, while her husband, a lieutenant, was deployed overseas with the U.S. Navy. She graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1955.

After graduation, Mary and Donald lived in Norfolk, VA; where he was stationed with the Navy. Mary worked as a nurse at the Navy Hospital. After Donald completed his period of active-duty service, the couple moved to Parkersburg, WV where Mary worked in public health nursing until the birth of their first child. Mary was a Navy wife for 20 years as Donald had remained in the Navy reserves.

The couple moved to Newark, DE in 1960. Mary became a full-time mother to her three children, supporting all their various activities. Mary spent several years as a Brownie and Girl Scout Leader. Her greatest delight was being a band mom having her own special spot by the press box at the Alexis I. duPont High School Stadium for many years, through three children and two grandchildren that participated in the band there.

After her husband’s untimely death in 1976, Mary viewed being Mom as her most important job and an extension of her role as a devoted wife. She went on to raise her three children on her own, devoting her full-time and attention to her children, supporting their activities and maintaining as stable a life as possible for them as they grew up. She later did the same for her six grandchildren; cheering on sports teams, attending dance recitals and scouting events and as many band concerts and performances as distance would allow.

Mary re-entered the workforce when her youngest child was in high school working first for The State of Delaware and then went on to work for 17 years at Greenwood Trust. She retired at the age of 70.

Mary and Donald joined the Ebenezer United Methodist Church in Newark, DE where Mary maintained continuous membership until her death. Mary was highly involved in women’s circles, assisting with assembling newsletters and mailings, coordinating volunteers to greet members on Sunday mornings, and counting offerings. Mary has been a faithful and devoted member of Ebenezer church for nearly 60 years.

Mary was the biggest fan ever of The Ohio State Marching Band.

Every Buckeye football game was all about catching a glimpse of the band and the Script Ohio. EVERYTHING stopped when the band was on the field. Mary was always most comfortable sporting an Ohio State sweatshirt or jacket and proudly displayed a big block O on her car for many years.

Mary is preceded in death by her husband, Donald Bowers; parents, Albert and Hellen Hirth; and sister, Esther Jackson (Ray Jackson).

Mary is survived by her children Thomas Bowers (Janice) of Hockessin, DE; Donna Bennett (Stephen) of Mechanicsville, MD; and Elizabeth Bowers (Brian Moore) of Richland, MI; grandchildren:  Andrew Bowers (Colleen) of Poolesville, MD; Justin Bowers (Jennifer) of Florence, AZ; Patrick Bowers (Joy) of West Chester, PA; Zachary Hardham (Lindsay) of Kalamazoo, MI; Joshua Hardham (Jessica) of Hazel Park, MI; Emily Hardham of Richland, MI and great-grandchildren Genevieve Bowers, Riley Hardham; Keira Bowers; Liam Bowers and Declan Bowers. Niece and nephews:  Marjorie Hawthorne, Charles and Robert Little, Jeffrey and David Jackson and John LaRowe.

Family and friends are invited to visit at the Ebenezer United Methodist Church, 525 Polly Drummond Road, Newark, DE 19711 on Saturday, June 21, 2025 from 10:00AM – 11:00AM, with funeral services beginning at 11:00AM. Interment will be held the following week in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Logan, OH. The Bowers family encourages attendees to wear The Ohio State colors of scarlet and gray in honor of Mary. 

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in Mary’s memory to Ebenezer United Methodist Church 525 Polly Drummond Road, Newark, DE 19711, or The Ohio State University Marching Band’s TBDBITL – Script Ohio Fund at www.tbdbitl.com.