William Eugene Nowers

William E. “Bill” Nowers, age 95, passed away at his residence on Monday, June 6, 2021. Bill was born to Lyman Nowers and Lillian Lawton Nowers in Bloomington, Illinois. Captain Bill enlisted in the Navy during his senior year of high school only months after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He qualified for an aviation program that allowed him to attend college immediately after basic training, Bill obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering at Northwestern University and served thirty years as a Naval Officer. His career spanned 18 years as an active Naval Aviator including multiple carrier deployments, 249 carrier landings, combat sorties during the Korean War, and was awarded two Navy Air Medals. After serving as a flight instructor, Bill was assigned Commanding Officer of Heavy Photographic Squadron VAP-62 in 1965 and served as the Operations Officer on the USS Independence. His final assignment was the Director of the Crew Systems Division of the Naval Air Systems Command in Washington DC. where he retired as a Captain in 1973. Bill considered retirement as an opportunity which led him to several more career pursuits. He founded and operated Nowers Home Construction Inc. for twenty years until turning the business over to his son. Bill was an active member of Capital Baptist Church in Annandale, VA where he worked tirelessly on many projects. His boundless energy and drive led him to volunteer for many social, religious, and political causes to include founding the Fairfax County Chapter of the American Family Association, instructing bible study classes, and participation in the City of Fairfax Republican Committee. After moving to Lake of the Woods, VA, Bill then became a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity where he became Orange County’s construction supervisor for many years. Bill was an active member of the Lake of the Woods Lions Club. Bill’s love for his country and compassion for people is reflected in the many books he authored and his brief stint as a missionary in Africa. Bill was the beloved husband of the late Mildred (Vadjun) Nowers and the devoted father and grandfather to six children, 10 grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren. Bill was the dear brother of Gordon Nowers and the late sister Nelva Jean of Wisconsin. Services will be held at the Old Post Fort Myer's Chapel on Thursday, November 18 at 1:00 pm. Interment will follow at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. Visitors will need to enter at Hatfield gate on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall.