Clara Eleanor Bower 81 formerly of Milton Pennsylvania passed away Sunday March 4 2007 in Dayton Beach Florida.
Clara was born on December 25 1926 in Milton the daughter of Jacob K. and Mae E. Bower.
She was a 1943 graduate of Milton High School. In 1947 she received her Bachelors of Science degree in Home Economics from the Pennsylvania State University.
She interned 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 District Hospital Daytona Beach Fla. 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 4 phase renovation of the hospital dietary department without interruption of service to staff patients or visitors.
In 1981 the Halifax Medical Center Dietary Department named in her honor - the Clara E. Bower Dietary Department. In 1989 she retired after 35 and 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 Presidents Club the Nittany Lion Club and a life member of the Penn State Alumni Assoc. She was well known for her philanthropy to education civic and community organizations.
Clara enjoyed traveling playing bridge collecting antiques especially tea spoons and old cookbooks attending Penn State Football games and the Daytona Cubs Baseball games.
She is survived by two brothers and sister-in-laws Phillip H. & Joyce Bower of Montoursville Harold E. and Sandra of Mechanicsburg one sister Ethel Parker of Los Angeles CA and two sister-in-laws 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.
Funeral services were held on March 9 2007 with interment at the Harmony Cemetery Milton PA.
A memorial service honoring Miss Bower will be announced at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made in Clara's name to
The Halifax Medical Center Foundation 303 North Clyde Morris Blvd. Daytona Beach FL 32114 or to the Milton High School