John Jeremiah Fowler, an 83-year-old resident of The Villages, FL, died on Tuesday evening, Feb. 8, 2005 at The Villages. He was a former Newtown resident and served as a State Representative in the Missouri Legislature from 1978 to 1986, representing the Third District.
This website brought to you in part by the following sponsor:
John Jeremiah Fowler, an 83-year-old resident of The Villages, FL, died on Tuesday evening, Feb. 8, 2005 at The Villages. He was a former Newtown resident and served as a State Representative in the Missouri Legislature from 1978 to 1986, representing the Third District.
Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2005 at the Playle and Jones Family Funeral Home in Unionville. Doug Fairley conducted the services.
Shani Kinney was the organist and Kenton Kinney was the soloist.
Pallbearers, all grandsons, were Brad Wilford, Chris Flood, John Fowler, Zach Fogle, Jake Fogle, David Fowler and Alex Fogle.
Honorary pallbearers, all granddaughters, were Tori Pritchett, Megan Flood, Erin Fowler, Elizabeth Fowler, Abbie Lovejoy, Katie Fowler, Sarah Lovejoy and Rachel Lovejoy.
Burial was in the Newtown Cemetery.
Mr. Fowler was born on March 21, 1921 on a farm near Mendota, the son of Chloe Alice Porter and Bernie Alonzo (B.A.) Fowler. He spent his childhood in Lucerne, where he graduated from high school. He briefly attended college in Kirksville and later received a honorary degree from the University of Missouri School of Agriculture.
He worked on his parents’ farm, in the management and delivery of farm produce and worked as a ring man for the Princeton and Unionville sale barns. He entered the Army Air Force in October 1942, serving in World War II, and was trained in the radio and gunnery schools. He was one of 10 members of the 245th Bomber Group B-17 crew that was shot down behind enemy lines and spent 14 months as a prisoner of war before being liberated on April 29, 1945. He received a Purple Heart.
He was married in Kirksville on June 27, 1945 to his wife, Fern, who preceded him in death in January 2004. They settled in Newtown, eventually purchasing a grocery store in 1950 and the building Fowler Elevator in 1953.
Mr. Fowler was an active member of the Newtown Baptist Church, the Chapel of Christian Faith, the Masonic Lodge, the Eastern Star, the Lions Club, square dance clubs, the SE Clown Association and served as a 4-H leader. He was also a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, was a coach for American Legion baseball teams, was a board member of the Citizens State Bank, was appointed a member of Gov. Bond’s and Gov. Ashcroft’s Agricultural Advisory Boards, was elected vice president of the Missouri State Chamber of Commerce and was an elected president of the Mo-Ag Industries. During his tenure as state representative, he sponsored and saw the grain warehousing bill become law.
He enjoyed tending his citrus trees, rose and camellias and also enjoyed eating, cooking and sharing his specialties of baked hams and cinnamon rolls with others. He was an enthusiastic sports fan.
He is survived by one son, John Thompson (Tom) Fowler and his wife, Stephanie, of Unionville; three daughters, Nancy Flood and her husband, John, of Unionville, Debbie Lovejoy and her husband, Doug, of Kennett Square, PA and Sandra Fogle and her husband, Mark, of Carrollton, TX; 15 grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; two brothers, Joe Fowler and his wife, Sara, of The Villages, and F. David Fowler and his wife, Jackie, of Potomac, MD.
In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Mary Sue Wilford in June 1997.
The family suggests memorials to the American Cancer Society or the Campus Crusade for Christ. They may be left at or mailed to the Playle and Jones Family Funeral Home, 709 S. 27th, Unionville, MO 63565.