Kenneth Ralph Bowers

Ken was born Kenneth Ralph Bowers on February 19, 1948, in Lynwood Ca. and died December 18, 2018 in Harbor City, Ca. He grew up in Compton but lived in many cities in Southern California—Downey, Paramount, Long Beach and lastly in Los Alamitos. He is survived by sisters Jean Poppa and Beverly Boyd and also his wife, Willette Tupuivao-Bowers. His memorial service was held on December 29, 2018, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Long Beach East Stake in Los Alamitos, Ca.

Ken served in the armed forces from March 27, 1968 – March 26, 1971, as a Rank 4 Specialist in the Army working in a meteorological unit of the Artillery. His ashes will be laid to rest in the Riverside National Cemetery on March 1, 2019, at 11 am.

Although not having any children of his own, Ken left behind 4 daughters and 4 grandchildren through his marriage. Daughters: Kamryn Tupuivao Miranda, Tonya Elliott, Tara Talameo Mulder and Ashton Clark. Grand children: Alana Elliott, Jalen Elliott, Ittiishmen Miranda, and Kalleni Miranda. He loved being Uncle Kenny to his nieces: Julee Rossman, Cathee Escobar, Jocelyn De Santos, Ashley Boyd, and Jami Kissell. Likewise to nephews: Michael Boyd and Dustin Beall.

Included in Ken’s family are his grand nieces and nephews: Lillian Kuhns, Sage Castro, Madison Munguia, Colton Kuhns, Meridian Munguia, Emma Munguia, Jeremy De Santos, Chloe De Santos, Amalie De Santos, Jackson Boyd, Samson Boyd, Ruby Boyd, Levy Boyd, Emerson Garcia, Portlyn Garcia, Linkin Garcia, and Vivian Escobar. Great-grandnephew and niece: Dean Phoumma and Vienna Castro.

Ken was an avid reader of science-fiction, history, linguistics, biography, poetry, Shakespeare, comics (now called graphic novels) and almost anything having to do with space exploration and astronauts. In fact he always either had something to read in his hands or would read whatever he found close by—pamphlets, magazines, and community newspapers. On the computer he kept baseball stats and voting records of major league ball players and their likelihood of being inducted into the Hall of Fame. He frequented the library at least once a week and often did some of his short story writing there.

He was an artist and writer. He did oil paintings, portraits, and cartoons. He wrote research articles about film, in particular silent film, his favorite actor being Buster Keaton. In recent years Ken submitted short stories to horror and mystery magazines.

Ken will be sorrowfully missed as one of the kindest, gentlest of human beings to his friends, as an uncle, brother, step-dad/grandpa and husband.

Luyben Dilday Mortuary (562) 425-6401