Tommy Gene Fowler

Tommy Gene (Tom) Fowler, 76, of San Diego, California, passed away peacefully on November 25, 2025, at the University of California San Diego Hillcrest Medical Center.

Tom was preceded in death by his father, Jerney Edwin Fowler; his mother, Betty Jane Hart Fowler; brothers Billy (Bill) Dale Fowler, Robert Fowler, and Raymond Fowler; his former spouse and friend, Karen Jane Johnson; his infant son, Patrick Edward Fowler; and his long-time partner, Jose David Soto. He is survived by his son, Ian Michael Fowler and husband Michael of San Diego, California; three brothers, Harold Fowler (wife Carol) of Cape Coral, Florida; Wayne Fowler (wife Connie) of Bettendorf, Iowa; and Charlie Fowler (wife Colleen) of Unionville, Missouri; as well as five nieces and four nephews whom he loved dearly.

Tom was born on October 16, 1949, at St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital in Centerville, Iowa — the youngest of five boys and the first born in a hospital rather than on the family farm. He grew up in the Chariton community of Putnam County, Missouri, and attended the Wells one-room schoolhouse before graduating from Unionville High School in 1967.

After high school, Tom worked for Hallmark Cards in Kansas City and attended trade school before returning to Unionville, where he co-owned the Dairy Lane with his brother Bill beginning in 1971. He later moved to Kirksville, Missouri, where he worked for Hollister for several years before relocating to Tucson, Arizona, where he spent more than 30 years. Over the course of his career, he held positions with Broadway Southwest, Hughes Aircraft, and Raytheon, eventually becoming a regional manager for Xerox Corporation — a role he found most fulfilling for the people he mentored and the teams he led.

In 2015, Tom moved to San Diego to be closer to his son, where he embraced a new chapter of life filled with travel, friendship, and the coastal beauty of Southern California. He especially loved taking his dogs, Snickers and Noah, to the beach, keeping a meticulous home, and lending a helping hand to neighbors and friends. Tom had an uncommon curiosity about people — he loved hearing their stories, learning their struggles, and offering kindness wherever he could.

Per his wishes, there will be no formal funeral. A celebration of life will be held in San Diego on December 13, 2025 (details to be announced), and a small memorial ceremony will take place in March 2026 in Hawaii, where his ashes will be scattered in the Pacific Ocean, a place he loved for its warmth and calm, where he so often waded and swam in the gentle waters he found so peaceful. Cremation arrangements are being handled by Smart Cremation in San Diego.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Humane Society or Meals on Wheels in his memory, reflecting his love for animals and his gratitude for the compassion of those who serve others.