Rev. Ted W. Stowers 1950-2011

STOWERS GINN MCBRIDE

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 4/15/2011 at 20:19:01

Sioux City Journal
14 February 2011

SERGEANT BLUFF -- The Rev. Ted W. Stowers, 60, of Sergeant Bluff died on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2010, at a local hospital.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Community United Methodist Church in Sergeant Bluff, with the Rev. Catie Newman, the South Central UMC District Superintendent, and the Rev. William W. Poland, officiating. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Waterbury Funeral Service.

Ted was born on Sept. 21, 1950, in Milton, W.V., the son of Lee and Betty (Ginn) Stowers. He graduated in 1968 from Brookfield High School in Brookfield, Ohio. He began college, but the necessity for him to work full-time while attending school led to a decision to postpone college in favor of full-time employment. Ted worked with his father and many other family members at Sharon Steel in Sharon, Pa. He later worked as a loan officer for IBM and other credit companies and also in truck sales.

At age 13, an experience in his youth group led Ted to recognize God's call into the ministry of Christ. Although his journey to the pulpit took 20 additional years, the call to ministry was strong, and so at the age of 33, Ted returned to college, graduating from Towson State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Philosophy in 1986. In 1995, Ted received a Master of Divinity degree from the St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Mo. Before serving United Methodist churches and their communities, Ted was employed as a chaplain at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines.

Ted was united in marriage to Deborah Jean McBride on June 9, 1973, at the Brookfield United Methodist Church in Brookfield, Ohio. Ted and Deborah were blessed by the family they enjoyed in Christ and Christ's worldwide and eternal church.

In 2003, Ted was ordained as an Elder in Full Connection in the Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Ted served appointments to the Crystal Lake United Methodist Church, the Lake Mills and Thompson United Methodist charge, the St. Ansgar and the Little Cedar United Methodist charge, the Inwood and Doon United Methodist charge and lastly, the Adaville and Merrill United Methodist charge. With failing health, Ted reluctantly withdrew from full-time ministry and was granted disability status in October 2010. Despite his health challenges, Ted remained strong in his faith and delighted in sharing his love of God with caregivers and others whom he encountered during the remainder of his life.

Ted is survived by his wife, the Rev. Deborah Stowers of Sergeant Bluff; his parents, Lee and Betty Stowers; one brother, Timothy; and one sister, Lora; as well as a vast number of individuals in his faith-based "family" whom he held in his heart.

Ted was preceded in death by his grandparents and many aunts and uncles.

Memorials may be directed to Community United Methodist Church or the American Heart Association.