Alice Fowler

Alice Cornelia Godard was the eldest of three daughters born to Howard and Laura Godard. Alice, Miriam and Carol were raised in the Lyon Village neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia. The family learned the lessons of thrift and self-reliance during the Great Depression. Alice graduated from W&L High School in the midst of World War II. She went to work at the Department of Agriculture. Alice had many friends and an active social life in postwar Washington, D.C.

Alice was introduced to her future husband, Norman Lawson Fowler, by her dear childhood friend, Mary Charlotte Irvin. Norman was a young Air Force veteran from Middletown, Pennsylvania. He had recently completed his college degree (the first in his family) and moved to Fairfax County to become a teacher. Alice and Norman married in 1960. Their first child, Karen Florence, was born in 1962 and their second, Howard Mark, was born in 1967. Alice raised the children at their home in Dunn Loring Woods, Virginia. The family moved to Burke in 1972, but eventually opted for a Falls Church condominium that became their home from 1974 onward.

Alice was actively involved in her children’s education and activities. She was a volunteer art teacher in the elementary schools. She was a Girl Scout leader, enduring an overnight camping trip for her daughter. And she was the President of the Falls Church Kiwanis National Little League, her son’s favorite childhood sport. After Howard entered intermediate school, Alice re-joined the workforce, working part-time for the CIA! Alice enjoyed applying her skills to the new office computers circa 1980.

Alice was proud to see both her children earn Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Norman taught for 30 years in Fairfax County, 28 of them at McLean High School. He passed away suddenly in October 1987 after Alice and Norman had attended a Redskins football game. Alice received a Bible from Coach Gibbs and a game ball from the team. Several years later, she met her favorite quarterback Doug Williams on a cruise.

Alice loved to travel. In the 1940s, Alice quit her job to travel cross country by car with her family to visit her sister Miriam. During her single days, she traveled to Bermuda and she went to Times Square on New Year’s Eve. Alice introduced the joys of travel to her children. The family managed many interesting and educational short trips ... on a tight budget! After Norman’s death, Alice traveled with her church group to England and Germany. She also traveled to Hawaii, the West and the Northeast. Alice often said that she wanted to live, not just exist!

Alice did volunteer work throughout her life, but especially in retirement. Alice enjoyed spending time with her Karen’s three foster daughters – Valerie, Monica and Marilyn. Alice loved children and developed special relationships with each of them.

In 1999, Alice sold the family home in Falls Church and moved to Greenspring Village. By coincidence, Howard had accepted a job as the Greenspring Controller at the same time. While Howard only worked in this role for a few years, both Mother and Son greatly enjoyed being together on campus. Alice was active at Greenspring, organizing the initial Bingo Club, making new friends and connecting with old friends that had also moved from Falls Church.

In 2012, Howard was married. A year later, Howard and China had a son, Thomas Howard Fowler. Alice was thrilled to be a first-time Grandma at the tender age of 88! She doted on her grandson and they gave each other much joy and love in her final years.