John Arthur (Art) Fowler

John Arthur Fowler, 84, of 3046 East Main Street, died Monday, January 29, 2007, at his home. Born July 3, 1922, in Spartanburg, SC, he was the son of the late Fernando and Lola Fowler Fowler. He was a Minor League pitcher with the Atlanta Crackers for five years prior to the Major Leagues. Mr. Fowler was a former professional baseball player with the Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Dodgers, and California Angels, and a pitching coach with the Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, New York Yankees, and Oakland Athletics. When he was 48 years old he went to Denver, CO, and played for the Denver Bears where he won nine games and saved fifteen games with an ERA of 1.59. He is a member of the S.C. Athletic Hall of Fame and was inducted in 1995. He was active with charity work for cancer with professional baseball and a member of Celebrities International in Tampa, FL, who handled his signings and bookings. Mr. Fowler was scheduled in February 2007 to go to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, to sign autographs for the 77, 78 New York Yankees World Series team. He was a lifetime member of Converse Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife, Virginia Ruth Burch Fowler; a daughter, Cheryl Fowler of Spartanburg; two sons, Ray Fowler and his wife Linda of Columbus, GA, and John Arthur Fowler, Jr. of the home; a sister, Ruth Fowler Gilbert of Converse; a former daughter-in-law, Gail Fowler of Spartanburg; a grandson, Pete Fowler and his wife Ginny of Spartanburg; a granddaughter, Ginger Fowler Gossett of Greenwood; four great-grandchildren, Tristen and Dalton Fowler of Spartanburg, Taylor Gossett and Colin Bennett of Greer; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by five brothers, Pete, Frank, Clarence, Jack, and George Fowler; and three sisters, Ruby Fowler Adair, Lillie Fowler Brown, and Nellie Fowler Willis Allen. Visitation will be 6-8:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 31, 2007, at Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, February 2, 2007, at Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel conducted by the Rev. Angelia P. Price and the Rev. Daniel Godfrey. Burial will be in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be made to the Spartanburg Regional Hospice Home, c/o SRHS Foundation, Attn: Foundation Office, 101 East Wood Street, Spartanburg, SC 29303. The family is at the home.