John Arthur Fowler

John Arthur Fowler, 87, beloved father, grandfather and great-grandfather, went to be with his Lord on Wednesday, March 18, 2009. John was born on February 2, 1922 in Carthage, Texas, to his parents Arthur Fowler and Blanche Hudson. He was a resident of Lufkin for more than 60 years of his life. John was a master carpenter, owning and operating his own building business for a number of years. He constructed many houses and businesses that are still standing in the Lufkin area today. Mr. Fowler was a perfectionist and an expert cabinet builder. Over a span of 46 years, JohnÕs work took him from Lufkin to Nacogdoches to Baytown -- even as far as New Mexico. When he retired in his seventies, his wife of 64 years, Bettina, was in dire need of JohnÕs constant care. For ten years prior to her death on November 15, 2008, John was her primary caregiver. He displayed remarkable and uncommon devotion to her during the duration of her illness, placing his own health needs aside. In the last several months of her life, John was content to sit all day by her bedside holding her hand. The love he had for his wife, coupled with the relationship he had with his Lord, were the driving forces of his entire adult life. During his elderly years, John spent time with puzzles to keep his mind alert and enjoyed gardening until his wifeÕs illness required more of his time. John was a member of Word of Life Church and for many years he was remembered by children as the nice man with a big smile who loved to give pieces of Juicy Fruit gum to them after Sunday morning services. A rare gentleman of chivalry, he never failed to open the car door for his precious Bettina each time he pulled in to the church parking lot. Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, David and Janie Fowler of Lufkin; daughter and son-in-law, Marlaina and Glenn Owens of Baytown; grandchildren and their spouses, Davelyn and Richard Mason, Jacquelyn and Chris Purser, Elizabeth and Seth Beaver, Michael Fowler, Jason and Angela Owens, Melanie and Kelvin Pagel, Stacey and Rindi Esser and Johnny Fowler; eleven great-grandchildren; sister, Elsie Reeves of Lufkin; and a number of nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife Bettina and his parents, Mr. Fowler was preceded in death by his son, John Fowler; daughter, Amanda Caroline; great-granddaughter, Audrey Jane Mason; brother, Lester; and sisters, Gladys, Mildred, Grace and Nadine. The family wishes to extend a special thank you to the nurses and staff at Parkwood Place on Unit 2 and the nurses in the Hospice Unit at Memorial Medical Center of East Texas for the excellent loving care shown to John during his final illness. Expressions of sympathy in JohnÕs memory may be made to Hospice in the Pines, 116 S. Raguet, Lufkin, Texas 75904. JohnÕs grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Services for John will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, March 20, 2009, in the Elwyn M. Gipson Chapel in the Garden of Memories Memorial Park, with Chaplain Billy Jackson and Reverend Bob Lewis officiating. Interment will follow in the Garden of Memories Memorial Park. Friends are invited to visit with the family prior to service time, from 1 to 2 p.m. Friday afternoon at the Elwyn M. Gipson Chapel in the Garden of Memories Memorial Park. Gipson Funeral Home, Duane E. Hills, director.