Clara Eleanor Bower

DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - Clara Eleanor Bower, 81, formerly of Milton, passed away Sunday, March 4, 2007 in Daytona Beach, Fl. Clara was born on December 25, 1926 in Milton, the daughter of the late Jacob K. and Mae E. Bower. She was a 1943 graduate of Milton High School and in 1947 she received her Bachelors of Science degree in Home Economics from Pennsylvania State University. She completed her Dietetic Internship at Harper Hospital, Detroit, MI, and began her career at Hackensack Hospital, Hackensack, NJ. In 1954, she was employed as an Administrative Dietician at Halifax Hospital, Daytona Beach, FL. In 1956, she was named Chief Dietician of the Halifax Hospital Medical Center. In 1973, she was recognized as Outstanding Dietician of the Year for the state of Florida. One of her greatest career accomplishments was in 1980 when she organized and implemented a complete four phase renovation of the hospital dietary department without interruption of service to staff, patients or visitors. In 1981, the Halifax Medical Center named its Dietary Department in her honor- the Clara E. Bower Dietary Department. In 1989, she retired after 35 ½ years of service. Clara organized the first local Dietary Society and was president of the first hospital credit union for 15 years. She served on the Board of Directors of the Halifax Historical Society, the Richard V. Moore Community Center, the Sun Coast Credit Union, the United Way, and the Halifax Hospital Medical Center Foundation. She was a delegate at large for the Democratic Executive Committee of Volusia County, a member of the Penn State Presidents Club, the Nittany Lion Club and a life member of the Penn State Alumni Association. She was well known for her philanthropy to education, civic and community organizations. Clara enjoyed traveling, playing bridge, collecting antiques, especially teaspoons and old cookbooks, attending Penn State football games and the Daytona Cubs baseball games. She is survived by her brothers, Phillip H. (Joyce) Bower of Montoursville and Harold E. (Sandra) Bower of Mechanicsburg; a sister, Ethel M. Parker of Los Angeles, CA; and two sisters-in-law, Leona L. Bower and Frances S. Bower, both of Milton; and 17 nieces and nephews and their families. She was preceded in death by four brothers, Everitt B., Benjamin F., J. Lee and Fred N. Bower. Friends and relatives will be received at 10 am Friday, March 9, 2007 at the Dale E. Ranck Funeral Service, Inc., 125 N. Front St., Milton where a funeral service will be conducted at 11 am with the Rev. Erwin C. Roux officiating. Interment will be in Harmony Cemetery, Milton. Memorial contributions may be made in Clara's name to the Halifax Medical Center Foundation, 303 N. Clyde Morris Blvd., Daytona Beach, FL. 32114 or the Milton High School Scholarship Fund, Mahoning St., Milton PA 17847.