William Fowkes

Col. William Fowkes USAF Retired, 83, of Punta Gorda, FL passed away November 14, 2007 at his home comforted by his beloved wife Helen and daughter Amy. Col. Fowkes was born in Duncansville, PA on July 9, 1924. He was raised in the central PA area and went to WWII as a pilot in the Pacific Theater. After the war, he returned home and was given a contract to play baseball for the Cincinnati Reds. However, the newly formed US Air Force called him back into service and he spent the remainder of his career serving his country. He retired after 30 years in the Air Force and moved to Blue Knob, PA near his and Helens relatives in the central PA area. They later moved to Punta Gorda, FL and became active in the community, as of late with the Isles Girls and Guys. He loved traveling in their motor home visiting their children and grandchildren around the country. His lifelong passion was baseball and he forgot more about the sport than most people ever learn. He was a catcher with a powerful swing, an arm like a cannon and slow feet. He always said that if he had Helens legs he would have stayed in the big leagues. Col. Fowkes was a member of the Military Officers Assoc of America, the American Legion Post 522 in Claysburg, PA and the P-38 Assoc. He was awarded the Legion of Merit, held Command Pilot Wings and was a Distinguished Military Graduate of the Air War College.

He is survived by his wife, Helen Fowkes; children, William Fowkes, Amy Zapata, Andrew and Eric Fowkes; his grandchildren, Barbara Salas, Heather Boyce, William Andrew Fowkes, Cody Butler, Kaitlyn Fowkes, Samantha Fowkes, Rachael Fowkes, Alexis Fowkes, Colleen Fowkes and Zane Zapata; sisters, Bette Johnston and Shirley Whitfield. He was pre deceased by his granddaughter Lindsay Fowkes and a sister, Pauline Snyder. Col. Fowkes loved his family and often told his children and grandchildren that he would fight tigers for them.

A Memorial Service will be held at 3:00 pm, Sunday November 18, 2007 at the First Presbyterian Church of Punta Gorda, 25250 Airport Road, Punta Gorda. Inurnment with full military honors will take place at the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA in May 2008. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial donations to Tidewell Hospice, 5955 Rand Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34238 or to the Lindsey V. Fowkes Foundation, 8939 Miller Lane, Vienna, VA 22182.