Thomas P. Bowlus, M.D., age 91, of Pember-ville, Ohio, passed away on Friday, July 11, 2014 at Bay Park
Community Hospital, Oregon, Ohio.
Tom was born May 11th, 1923 in Toledo to Harry and Bertha Bowlus of Pemberville, Ohio, where he grew up.

He attended Bowling Green State University for two years prior to his military service in World War II,
where he served in the South Pacific Theater in the 23rd (Americal) Infantry Division as a medic for
combat engineers. On returning from the war, he completed his undergraduate degree at Eastern Michigan
University and his medical degree at the University of Michigan.
He married his first wife Madeline Bichan in 1946, who died in 1958 leaving behind four children. He
married Marilyn Leibius in 1969, and together they had three children.
Tom was a family physician for 50 years at the Family Medical Center at 2020 Starr Avenue in East Toledo
and practiced at St. Charles and Riverside Hospitals. He was a kind and gentle doctor who truly enjoyed
caring for his patients and he missed them when he retired. He was active in the Toledo Retired
Physicians group.
He was a member of the Wood County Board of Health from 1967-86. He was also a member of the St. Charles
Ethics Committee.
He was the inspiration for and founder of the non-profit Otterbein-Portage Valley Retirement Center near
Pemberville, where he also had a medical office from 1981 to 2001. Here, he also served as president of
the board in the early years. Otterbein-Portage Valley began in 1975 as a grassroots effort led by Dr.
Tom and involved the support of many local individuals, organizations, and communities to bring it to
fruition.
He was very active in the American Cancer Society, serving as President of the Lucas County Division and
the Ohio division. He was a humble, unassuming man of God and served as an elder for many years in the
Pemberville Presbyterian Church, and in his last years played on the church dart ball team.

In the 1950s he joined the Toledo Submariners, a local scuba diving group, and went on numerous dives in
exotic locations. This group of men gradually changed into a tennis group that continued to go yearly
for a week to various southern locations.
He was an avid Ohio State fan, despite the fact that he graduated from the School Up North. He and his
wife Marilyn enjoyed traveling together and went to many foreign locales. He always maintained a large
garden and a flock of sheep at his beloved country home. He loved to grow and give away tomato plants to
his friends. Tom loved the game of bridge, always seeking to improve his game. In his last years, he
organized and led a weekly bridge group at the Pemberville Senior Center. Above all, he treasured the
time he spent with his family.
Surviving Tom is his wife: Marilyn; children: James (Betty) Bowlus of Lima, Jeanne (Steven) Thomas of
Conway, MA, Thomas (Lynn) Bowlus of Pemberville, Jonathan (Carla) Bowlus of Upper Sandusky, David
(Meredith) Bowlus of Ft. Campbell, KY, Mark (Judy) Bowlus of Bowling Green, Susan (Jenna Hanson) Bowlus
of Columbus, OH; 13 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife: Madeline; sisters: Elizabeth Bowlus and Josephine
Reed; and brothers: Ted and James Bowlus.
Family and friends will be received on Friday, July 18, 2014 from 2 to 7 p.m. in the Bowlus Life
Enrichment Center of Otterbein-Portage Valley Senior Lifestyle Community, 20311 Pemberville Road,
Pemberville, OH.
Funeral service will be conducted on Saturday, July 19, 2014 at 11 a.m. from Bethlehem Lutheran Church,
Pemberville, OH with additional visitation from 10 a.m. until time of services. Officiating will be Rev.
James Miller and Rev. David Bowlus.
Interment will be in Pemberville Cemetery, Pemberville, OH.
There will be a bereavement luncheon served at Bethlehem Lutheran Church immediately following the
cemetery committal services.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Otterbein-Portage Valley, First United Presbyterian Church or a
charity of the donor’s choice.
Marsh Funeral Home, Pemberville, OH is handling the arrangements.
Those wishing to express a word of encouragement, share a memory or photo, may do so at
www.marshfuneralhomes.com.
To
send flowers click here!