James D. Bowders

STEWARTSTOWN – James D. Bowders, 59, of Stewartstown, PA, passed away Saturday, October 19, 2024, at Wellspan York Hospital.

James was an outdoorsman. Hunting, fishing, trapping, archery, and farming brought him tremendous joy. When James could no longer engage in these activities, his storytelling about his adventures filled his conversations. His memory was keen, recalling the names of streams & little-known trails, reporting the weather conditions experienced, and giving intricate details of his encounters with nature. His stories were often punctuated with humor, as James had a knack for getting himself into a tangle!

James' daughter, Leah Bowders (Will Taylor), joined him in many of his escapades. One epic adventure was a fly-fishing trip to Montana, where they floated down the Madison River, visited Yellowstone, and shared their love of the outdoors. James also enjoyed classic rock music, played at high-decibel. Daughter Laura Weisser (Keith) has fond memories of rocking out while they cruised around in their old Gremlin. While neither were destined to win a talent competition, they sang their hearts out and enjoyed every minute.

While school was not among his favorites, James learned the trade of bricklaying at York County Vo-Tech, graduating in 1983. He went on to hone that trade, working alongside his dad for many years.

As James' muscular dystrophy progressed, he needed support to live independently, and two caregivers signed on. Over the course of the past twelve years, Linda and Jessica became part of James' family, caring for him daily. John and Jennifer, James' siblings, are deeply grateful for their unconditional love for James. Linda and Jessica are exceptional human beings.

The funeral service and burial will be a private family service.  Arrangements have been entrusted to Diehl Funeral Home & Cremation Center of Mount Wolf.

Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider Muscular Dystrophy Association at www.mda.org To share memories of James, please visit www.diehlfuneralhome.com