Mr. Robert R. "Robbie" Bowers

Robert “Robbie” Ransom Bowers, 72, of Columbia died Friday October 31, 2025. He was a son of the late Edward Berry Bowers and Mary Grimes Bowers and born July 8, 1953, in Florence, S.C. Shortly after his birth his family moved to Columbia, S.C. where he was a lifelong resident. He attended Columbia public schools graduating from A. C. Flora High School in 1971. He went on to the University of South Carolina where he earned a B.S. in Finance in 1975 and where he was a proud member of the Kappa Alpha Order. Upon graduation he joined his father, Ed, in the life and employee benefit insurance business - an industry where he worked for over 50 years - loving the "like family" interaction with clients and coworkers and enjoying the ability to truly help people. Robbie was a doer. He was very active in his church and in the larger Columbia community. As a lifelong member of Trenholm Road United Methodist Church, he served in numerous leadership roles including Chairing the Administrative Board and serving on the Finance Committee, Board of Trustees, and the Church Foundation. In the wider community, he served as a church basketball and baseball coach, and president of the Palmetto Baseball League. He also served on the board of the Better Business Bureau, the Bethlehem Community Center, the University of South Carolina Alumni Board of Visitors, and the local advisory board of South State Bank. He received numerous professional awards and honors including being appointed by Governor Carroll Campbell to serve on the advisory board for the South Carolina Department of Insurance and serving as President of the Columbia Life Underwriters Association, the Central SC Chapter of Chartered Life Underwriters, and of Life Leaders of South Carolina. Robbie spent a lot of time helping people over the years, and he enjoyed coaching youth athletic teams, playing golf and tennis, going fishing, taking family trips to the beach, Bahamas, and Keys, as well as traveling with friends. In 2020 Robbie began his journey with cancer, which he courageously battled until the end. From the date of his original diagnosis, he prayed daily for strength, courage, patience, and peace. He was blessed to have these prayers answered, though he regularly told people that patience was still a “work in progress” between him and the Good Lord! Robbie was an exceptional father and beloved grandfather known as "Paps." To his children he demonstrated the virtues of love, strength, courage, patience, and peace on a continual basis. The equanimity with which he handled his journey through cancer treatment was remarkable and exemplary of the kind of excellent life Robbie led. Robbie is survived by his loving wife of 53 years Susan Faulks Bowers and their children Robert “Rob” Ransom Bowers Jr., Matthew "Matt" Lee Bowers (Rhoda Jane Bowers), and Sara Bowers Reed (Andrew Cleveland Reed), their eight grandchildren Robert "Roy" Ransom Bowers III, Matthew Lee Bowers Jr., Charles Paschal Bowers, Catharine Drennon Reed, Charlotte West Reed, Susan McMillan "Milly" Reed, Andrew "Drew" Cleveland Reed Jr., and Harriet Ruth Reed, as well as a daughter-in-law Ruth "Ruthie" Foreman Irvin. He is also survived by his brother Edward "Eddie" Berry Bowers Jr. and sister Rebecca "Becky" Bowers Brantley along with numerous sisters- and brothers-in-law, nieces, and nephews. The service for Mr. Bowers will be held at 2:00 on Friday November 7 at Trenholm Road United Methodist Church with visitation to immediately follow in the Dining Room at the Church. The family will also receive friends from 5pm until 7pm on Thursday November 6 at the residence. Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, is assisting the family. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Epworth Children’s Home, 2900 Milwood Avenue, Columbia, SC, 29205; or to Trenholm Road United Methodist Church, 3401 Trenholm Road, Columbia, SC 29204.

Tributes

Mr. Robert R. "Robbie" Bowers

July 8, 1953 - October 31, 2025