Marion Balkcom Fowler

Marion (Brooks) Fowler passed away in her sleep on 2 April 2013, shortly after her 98th birthday. Marion was born in Providence, Rhode Island on 6 March, 1915, the eldest daughter of Ethel and Gilbert Brooks. After attending high school at the Lincoln School for Girls she went on to graduate from Katherine Gibbs Secretarial and Business College. She then worked for two years for the American Automobile Insurance Company. Marion met Herschel (Hal) Fowler of Houlton, ME, when he was attending Brown University and they were married on February 26, 1938. The Fowlers had three sons, Vernon, John and William (Bill). Hal and Marion lived first in North Quincy, MA. and then moved to Flushing, Queens, New York City, until their retirement to Houlton. Prior to the time she retired, Marion worked 10 years for a General Contractor as assistant to the office manager and 15 years as the executive secretary to the president.

She loved hunting, fishing, knitting and reading. Marion and Hal, with their boys, had fun vacation trips to their camp on Upper Shin Pond in Maine. When the two retired and returned to Houlton they often motored across the lake to spend time enjoying the scenery, wild life, and fishing before Hal was no longer able to make the crossing. Marion was a wonderful story teller with a marvelous memory, and could tell some great tales of those times, as can the boys. It was an important part of all of their lives.

Hal died in March of 1986 so Marion moved from Houlton to Oak Harbor, WA to be near two of her sons and their families. She had an apartment with a view of the Harbor, made many good friends and thoroughly enjoyed being here. She didn't mind the weather and "didn't miss the snow plows and zero degree temperatures of Maine one bit".

She bowled three times a week and then cut back to two in her 90s. When she first got to Oak Harbor she worked in the high school library and joined the Friends of the Oak Harbor Library, often helping with their book sales. In addition she belonged to the New England Club and a book club until her eyes prevented her from reading books but only listening to them on talking books. Marion was also an honorary member of the Retired Officer's Wives Club and an avid Mariner's fan, no matter what!

She is survived by her three sons, Vern Fowler, Col, USAF (Ret), and wife Dani, of Oak Harbor, John Fowler, Col, USAF (Ret) and wife Marie, of Merced, CA, and Bill Fowler, Col, USAF (Ret), and wife Eileen who is deceased, of Oak Harbor. The three sons were Air Force Colonels, on active duty, at the same time and Marion was very, very proud of that. Marion had 10 grandchildren (one is deceased), 14 great grandchildren, and 4 great, great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Dorothy Kunz of St. Paul, MN, as well as a number of nieces and nephews.