Obituary for Fred Fowler

Fred Allen Fowler

April 4, 1956 – January 20, 2019

Fred Fowler, Jr. of Ponca City has passed away. He was 62 years old. A celebration of life will be held in his memory on Sunday, January 27, 2019 at his brother Joe’s house located at 1966 East Coleman Road in Ponca City. All friends are welcome to come out from 2-5 p.m. and have an afternoon of guitar picking and old-fashioned fun. Please bring your guitar and a pot luck food item, if you wish. Joe Fowler can be reached at 580-716-6366 for directions.

He was born on April 4, 1956 in Ponca City, Ok to Fred Allen Fowler, Sr. and Dorothy Pauline Macomb Fowler. He was the middle child, having an older sister and a younger brother. He was educated in Ponca City schools, then graduated PoHi in 1974. While in high school Fred was a member of the Honor Band in 1971. Fred graduated from NOC with an Associate’s Degree in mathematics. He graduated with honors maintaining a 4.0 grade point average. So adept at math was he that he would often be seen writing math problems in the air with his finger.

Fred began his career as a paper boy in the 5th grade. His sister was the only one with a license and she drove the boys around town. She says he had a very good work ethic unless Star Trek was on TV and then she couldn’t tear him away from the screen. HHis As an adult, he worked for Farm Fresh Dairy for 14 years. While employed here, he was honored as a top employee in 1985. His career then took him to Cameron where he worked for 24 years. He began there as a floor hand, earning $4.50 an hour. He then worked his way up from a forklift operator to an Inspector #5. He worked here until the plant closed in March of 2014.

Fred was very proud of his family heritage. He hailed from mountain men who made their home around Eureka Springs, Arkansas. There is still an old homestead in Eureka Springs where the family will gather on special occasions. He and his dad, brother, and uncle would attend the folk festivals held in Basin Park and pick and grin for hours. His great grandfather was one of the original men who built Basin Park in 1905. He loved the outdoors, music and the simpler life of times past. His brother describes him as a “Mountain man out of place” being born 200 years too late. He had a kind and gentle spirit, he was caring, strong, loving, and sympathetic. His first email address, from back when email was new, was “Peace Man.” He still used that email account up until his passing.

A lover of animals, he took in stray dogs like a man obsessed. A lover of music, he played the guitar, mandolin, and drums. He also composed music and song lyrics. His favorite artists included Willie Nelson, John Prine, and Cat Stevens.

When he and his siblings were young, his parents enjoyed storm watching. They would load the kids up, with pillows and blankets, in the station wagon and haul them out on clear evenings, in lightning storms or in tornadoes to watch the night sky. Their love of the sky rubbed off on him. His family find it no coincidence that his passing occurred on the same night as the blood moon aka “Wolf Moon” and the lunar eclipse. Fred had a front row seat to that beautiful celestial event and we know he was smiling from ear to ear.

Fred was preceded in death by his grandparents, parents and an infant daughter Melissa Fowler. Honorable mention to several special and well-loved dogs who preceded him in death.

He leaves behind to cherish his memory his wife Joanne Fowler of the home, son James Fowler of Tulsa, son Jonathon Fowler and his wife Missy of Norman, granddaughter Kallie Catelyn Fowler and grandson Jackson Tiberius Fowler both of Norman, Darlene Fowler the mother of James and Jonathon, Aaron Pressley and his wife Trudie, sister Trudy Goins and her husband John of Ponca City, brother Joe Fowler and his wife Becky also of Ponca City, numerous nieces and nephews as well as a large extended family.

Memorial contributions can be made in his memory to the Ponca City Humane Society, PO Box 1671, Ponca City, OK 74601