LORDSTOWN, Ohio -

A longtime Valley auto worker and union member has passed away. 

Bill Bowers died this week after serving as the Retirees Chairman for the United Auto Workers 1112. Bowers had a lengthy hands-on career in the automobile industry before lending his expertise to support other workers.

Bowers was also a former President of UAW 1112 in Lordstown prior to 1997 when he represented close to 15,000 active and retired auto workers.
 
 People from around the country have been sending condolences and posting online sharing their memories.
 
"Bill was one of the people who laid the foundation of Local 1112 and helped us grow into one of the strongest local unions in the UAW. He also served at the Regional and International levels of the UAW and dedicated his entire adult life fighting for the interests of middle class workers," said Tim O'Hara former President of UAW local 1112.
 
"Bill was not only a great union guy, he was a great guy, period. He had a big heart and helped many people including me. His council was honest and much appreciated. He will be greatly missed by many,"  said Dave Green former President of UAW local 1112.
 
"Bill was a leader, he was kind, he was brilliant at benefits. He helped with benefits for the entire UAW family when he worked for the International UAW were he represented over 150,000 in the GM family.  He was very focused on local 1112," said Jim Graham, former President of UAW 1112 from  1997 to 2011.
 
 
Bill Bowers began working for GM Lordstown in 1966 the year the plant opened and for years he was President of UAW local 1112 prior to 1997
where set the agenda for labor.
 
 "He had a beautiful heart, and would help anyone," added Graham.
 
Bowers went to work for the UAW International after serving as UAW 1112 President. There he worked in benefits for the entire UAW family.
 
"He was brilliant, he was a brilliant in benefits, there was none better, none better." said Graham.
 
After he retired from GM in 2002 his work didn't stop. Bill Bowers became Chairman of UAW Retirees helping autoworkers navigate the benefits roads of retired life. 
 
His message to GM was retirees won't be left behind.  
 
Graham tells WFMJ when it came to the complex area of benefits, if you needed an answer Bowers had it off the top of his head.
 
"He was a great leader," emphasized Graham. 
 
Like other UAW 1112 members, Bowers was heartbroken when the last Chevy Cruze rolled off the line March 6, 2019.
 
He is being remembered as a family man, a tireless leader in his work to help autoworkers, working folks, and people in the community.
 
Bowers was Union for Life.