Sonny Bowers

Otho Lee “Sonny” Bowers, III, 75, passed away peacefully at his residence in Hewitt, Texas, on Saturday, January 21, 2023, with family by his side.

Sonny was born on September 18, 1947, in Austin, Texas, to O.L. and Ruth Bowers. Baseball was a large part of Sonny’s life from an early age. Sonny attended and played baseball for John Marshall High School in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where he was offered a four-year scholarship to Oklahoma State University. Instead of attending OSU, Sonny was drafted out of high school by the Washington Senators baseball club which later became the Texas Rangers. After playing for a number of years as shortstop/middle infielder, Sonny enlisted into the United States Army May 8, 1967, and received an Honorable Discharge July 20, 1972. Sonny then went to Baylor University, where he served as an assistant coach to Mickey Sullivan, and where he ultimately obtained his undergraduate degree in 1977.

After his time at Baylor, Sonny went on to become a professional baseball scout. He worked for the Major League Baseball Scouting Bureau, Pittsburgh Pirates, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, and finally the Philadelphia Phillies. Sonny was part of the Phillies’ scouting organization when it won the World Series in 2008 and was then honored to be inducted into the Texas Scouts Association Hall of Fame in 2010. He ultimately retired with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2015 after over twenty years of service with the organization.

Later in life, Sonny enjoyed spending time at home with family and friends, playing golf, and late-night card games. Sonny loved his family dearly. He was an amazing husband, son, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, colleague, and friend. He touched the lives of so many people, he will truly be missed, and will never, ever, be forgotten.

Sonny was preceded in death by his father, Otho Lee Bowers, Jr.; and stepfather, Hallet “Tom” Allen.

Sonny is survived by his loving wife, Shelley Eubanks Bowers; his two sons, Clinton Bowers and wife, Shari, of Walburg, Texas, and Wesley Bowers and significant other, Timothy McKay of Houston, Texas; his mother, Ruth Bowers Allen of Hewitt, Texas; sister, Gayle Coward and husband, Larry, of Hewitt, Texas; his two nephews, Gregory Nodine and wife, Amy, of McGregor, Texas, and Michael Nodine and wife, Tabitha, of Waco; his sister, Rebecca Jacobs and husband, Michael of Midland, Texas; and his three grandchildren, Brody, Cobie, and Audri Bowers.

Sonny’s friends and family are invited to attend his services and to share memories and celebrate his life in the way he would want to be remembered. Services will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, January 26, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Waco Memorial Park. A visitation will also be held on Wednesday, January 25, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home.

Pallbearers and honorary pallbearers include Clint Bowers, Wes Bowers, Mike Nodine, Greg Nodine, Larry Coward, Eric Walker, Benny Steenson, Denny Copeland, John Funk, and Anthony Duty.

The family invites you to leave a message or memory on our “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com.