BELOIT − Bob Stowe saved and planned for a retirement full of hunting and fishing trips, enjoying the family farm and sharing with his family.
The 68-year-old Beloit man, a graduate of McKinley High School in Sebring, finally took the chance to set his plans in motion and retired in late August.
Stowe left the oil industry, having inspected wells for 30 plus years. “He had it all planned,” his wife, Carolyn, said this week.
Five months later, a benefit dinner for Bob Stowe is planned from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday at Almost Home Event Center in Sebring to help defray medical costs.
Stowe has Stage 4 lung cancer.
His wife and daughters, Courtney and Katie, shared his story and their family’s journey to help “the man in their lives” battle this disease.
Fighting for more time
Shortly after he retired, Stowe developed a cough that worsened. He had trouble breathing and was flown by helicopter to University Hospital in Cleveland.
There, his family said doctors discovered the cancer and started chemotherapy. He was in the hospital for a month before Stowe returned home for outpatient care.
He has chemotherapy three times a week, every three weeks, at Salem Regional Medical Center. Carolyn Stowe quit her job to care for him.
“He has not been able to work or enjoy any part of his retirement,” Courtney Stowe, 31, said. “It’s just been very hard.”
Her sister, Katie Stowe, 24, said the benefit will help defray chemotherapy and other medical expenses not covered by Medicare.
Tickets cost $10 for adult and $6 for kids. The event, a spaghetti dinner, will include raffle baskets and 50/50 raffles. At least 250 tickets already have been sold.
“It’s very humbling to see how many people have reached out and helped,” Courtney Stowe said.
Everyone knows the Stowes
Most people in the Sebring and Beloit areas know the Stowe family. They’re the kind of folks that are active in the community, and who make friends easily.
“Our girls never stood a chance of getting away with anything,” Carolyn Stowe said with a chuckle.
Their father’s diagnosis has been difficult for the young women.
“My dad, in my and my sister’s eyes, is our hero. We look up to him so much,” said Katie Stowe, who organized the benefit dinner. “It’s very emotional.”
Courtney Stowe added: “He’s been a big mentor to us. He showed us to work hard, to be the best and be good to people. He’s always been with us racing.”
They followed their father’s footsteps into drag racing, competing in the junior circuit from ages 8 to 18. He also taught them to hunt and fish.
“He’s always been kind of the big supporter, the man in our life, really,” Courtney Stowe said.
‘He’s been a trooper.’
Carolyn Stowe said her husband has good and bad moments, as does she. The girls do too. All of this was unexpected and has been stressful.
“Cancer didn’t run in his family,” Carolyn Stowe said.
Courtney Stowe added: “It is hard to watch him and see the decline of his health.”
Like others facing a similar situation, they hope and pray for more time. “He’s been a trooper,” Carolyn Stowe said.
Bob Stowe was not interviewed for this story.
Reach Benjamin Duer at 330-580-8567 or ben.duer@cantonrep.com. Follow on Twitter @bduerREP.
Spaghetti Benefit Dinner for Bob Stowe
Where: Almost Home Event Center, 230 S. 12th St., Sebring
When: Saturday, Jan. 28.
Time: 4 to 7 p.m.
Ticket prices: $10 adults and $6 kids; raffles and more
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