Fred Wayne Gowdy

“We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the LORD.” 2Corinthians 5:8 He was born on October 9, 1928 in Memphis, TN. “Ace” as many knew him left his body on Friday September 15, 2023 to join his LORD and Savior. He graduated from Messick High School in Memphis in May 1946. A football scholarship brought him to LSU, where he met his first wife, Claude (Tootie) Bennett. He graduated in January 1951 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering, entered the Army as a 2nd LT., and served 2.5 years in Japan. He received his MS degree in January, 1955 also from LSU. He worked for the local Exxon refinery for 33 years, retiring in August, 1986. He loved sports; playing football, and baseball in high school; football at LSU and tennis for forty years before being forced to retire in 2005. He served as a teacher, bus driver, deacon and elder at First Presbyterian Church in Baton Rouge. Fred is survived by his wife, Tommy Lee; four sons: Wayne Bennett Gowdy and his wife Shelly, Glenn Barton Gowdy and his wife Barbie; Kenneth Parker Gowdy and his wife Claire; Richard Neal Gowdy and his wife Samantha; 4 grandsons, Bennett, Barton, Andrew, and Parker; five granddaughters, Sarah, Emily, Caroline, Griffin, and Mary Katherine, step-daughters Denise Hamilton, Jeanne and her husband Guy Barone, Suzanne Hamilton(deceased) , Charest and her husband Michael Fels, and Yvette Hamilton. Ace was blessed to be a Great-Grandfather to many. He was preceded in death by his wife Tootie, his father and mother Fred and Etna King, his brothers Robert and Kenneth Gowdy. His clever wit and joyous character will be missed. The family will hold a graveside service on Saturday September 23 at Roselawn Cemetery 4045 North St. Baton Rouge, LA 70806 at 10 am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Presbyterian Church Foundation, 763 North Blvd. Baton Rouge, LA 70802.

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