Willis "Bill" H. Fowler

Willis H. “Bill” Fowler, age 97, went home to heaven on Saturday, November 10, 2018. He was born in Cordele, Georgia on July 22, 1921. He was preceded in death by his wife of 76 years, Martha Ruth Dowdy Fowler. He enlisted in the Florida National Guard in l940 and went on to serve in the Army during World War II with the 101st Airborne Division in the European Theater. He was part of the distinguished 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment and participated in airborne operations during the D-Day invasion in Normandy. Mr. Fowler played a pivotal role in the Division’s heroic defense at Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. For his service, he was awarded the Silver Star Medal for Gallantry, Purple Heart, Four Bronze stars, a Bronze Arrowhead, Distinguished Unit Badge, 2 Presidential Unit Citations with oak leaf cluster, Luxembourg Commendation and Good Conduct Medal. He reached the rank Staff Sergeant. Upon his discharge in 1945, he returned to farming in Cordele. He moved his family to Jacksonville in 1950 and was employed with Huckins Yacht Corp for 33 years as a boat carpenter. He was a God-fearing family man and served his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, faithfully all his life. He chaired numerous positions within the Baptist church including Bible teacher, deacon and bi-vocational ordained minister. He has been a member of First Baptist Church Jacksonville for the past eight years.

He is survived by his six children: Willis (Diane) Fowler, Pat Fowler of Jacksonville, Ron (Gail) Fowler of Macclenny and Donald (Eileen) Fowler of Athens, Georgia; Donna (Randy) Murray and Alisa (Gary) Scheuer of Jacksonville; seven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren; He was preceded in death by his sisters, Eloise Hill Smith, Ida Maude Barnauskas and Lena Mae Walker.

The family will receive friends from six o’clock until eight o’clock in the evening on Tuesday, November 13, at the Oaklawn Chapel. A funeral service celebrating Mr. Fowler’s life will be held at ten o’clock in the morning on Wednesday, November 14, 2018 at the Hobson Auditorium, First Baptist Church Jacksonville. Graveside services will be at Sandy Mount Cemetery, Cordele, Georgia on Thursday, November 15, 2018 at 10:00 o’clock in the morning.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Baptist Church Jacksonville Building Fund or Sandy Mount Cemetery Fund, 431 Williford Crossing Rd. S., Cordele, Ga. 31015.

Please sign the guestbook at www.hardagegiddensoaklawnchapel.com

HARDAGE-GIDDENS, THE OAKLAWN CHAPEL, 4801 San Jose Blvd. is serving the family