Judith Ann (Dunbar) Bower passed away peacefully Monday, March 9, 2026, at Sunrise
Terrace Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Winfield, IA.
Judy was born on April 12, 1946, in the Washington Community Hospital in Washington, IA., the daughter of Dale and Maurine (Sheets) Dunbar. She attended Keota grade school until the fifth grade, where the family lived south of Keota, east of Talleyrand. Judy attended the 6th grade in Mt Zion, one room school. She then attended Lockridge for junior high school, and graduated from Fairfield High School, class of 1964. Judy briefly attended Northeast Missouri State University, Kirksville, MO.
After graduation Judy was employed with H&R Block, Henry County Savings Bank and US Bank for 25 years in the bookkeeping department as a supervisor in that area. She then worked as a case manager for the Henry County Attorney for 13 years, before retiring.
Judy married Ben Bower in Mount Pleasant on June 21, 1970.
Judy was a seamstress, an avid reader and sang in the Southeast Iowa Sweet Adelines Choir, Mount Pleasant Choral, Iowa Wesleyan College Vocal group, Acapella Group, Church Choir and played in Bell Choir and was an accomplished piano and flute player.
Judy and Ben built their first home in rural Salem, lived there for 12 years, then moved to West Point, for 14 years and then built a home in Mount Pleasant where they currently reside.
Judy and Ben had many interests. Spending time with friends and family. Among them was traveling to Colorado, to their condo and to Branson, MO. Trips in the late winter to visit Judy’s brother and sister in California, with stops in Arizona to visit relatives and friends. Together they traveled in all 50 states and some many times over. Cruised to Alaska, flew to the Arctic Circle and once drove to Alaska via Canada & the Yukon on the Alcan highway. They vacationed in the Hawaii, Bahamas, Germany, Italy and Austria.
Surviving is her grade school sweetheart and loving husband of 51 years, Ben. Brothers; Dennis Dunbar, Muscatine, IA.; Lyle (Ann) Dunbar, San Diego, CA. and John (Angie) Dunbar, Fairfield, IA. Sister-in-law’s: Melissa Olson, Urbandale, IA and Karen Bower, Mount Pleasant; many nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.
Preceding her in death are her parents Dale and Maurine “Sheets” Dunbar, a sister Linda Appleby, brother-in-law, Tim Bower, and sister-in-law Betty Dunbar.
Judy deeply appreciated all of the compassionate care she received from the entire staff and Poppy, while she was at Sunrise Terrace Care Center in Winfield, their kindness and support meant a great deal to Judy and her family.
Visitation will be held from 1:00 – 7:00 p.m. Friday, March 13, 2026, at Olson-Yoder Funeral Home in Mount Pleasant, where the family will greet friends from 5-7 p.m. Funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 14, 2026, at the First United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Court Fischer officiating. Burial will be in the Glasgow Cemetery. A memorial fund has been established for the Glasgow Cemetery and the First United Methodist Church in Mount Pleasant. The Olson-Yoder Funeral Home is caring for Judy and her family. www.olsonyoderfh.com.
