Ernest G. Fowler

1922 - 2022

Ernest G. Fowler, 100, of Scenery Hill, died Saturday, July 9, 2022 in Standish's Assisted Living.

He was born March 3, 1922 on a farm in North Bethlehem Township, a son of the late John Harrison Fowler and Margaret Pearl Grable Fowler. He was the youngest of four children. They all lived on an 82 acre farm in North Bethlehem Township and went to Mt. Lookout School.

Ernest ran his Father's farm when his Dad went to work for Ross' farm in Glyde. He got married on July 18, 1940 at the age of 18 to the love of his life, Ethel Martin, whom he met at the Green Valley Dance hall.

Ernie and Ethel lived in a three room house on the farm that his aunt built until he left for the army at age 22. They had two young sons by then, but as the war drug on, he was called to serve his country in January 1944. He took basic training in Georgia, got a two week furlough and then went on to Ft. Meade, Maryland before being shipped out.

Ernest said the saddest day of his life was when he kissed his wife goodbye, not knowing when or if he would ever see her again.

He was sent to the 44th Trucking Unit on an island next to New Guinea called Biak. After being there awhile, his Sergeant took his men to the other side of the island to the 3744th Quartermaster Trucking Co. It was there, Ernest took a position with the military police to guard Prisoners of War. His wife wrote him every single day.

After Ernest received his honorable discharge, he briefly worked on a dairy farm and Doak's fruit farm. He then went on to work at Molybdenum Corp. in Washington, from where he retired in 1984 after 33 years of service.

Ernie and Ethel went on to have two more children. They watched their family grow and lived a comfortable life for 55 years, until Ethel's death in March 1996.

Ernest was a longtime member of Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church in Glyde. He was also a member of American Legion Post 175 of Washington.

Before, selling his home, Ernie enjoyed planting a large garden each year and hunting small game and deer. He also enjoyed playing cards, reading books about World War II and the Civil War, and was an avid Pittsburgh Pirate fan.

Later in life he reconnected with an old neighbor, Martha Mancini, and was fortunate to have her in his life until her death in 2011.

He is survived by his four children, Ronald E. Fowler of Perrysburg, Ohio, Jack L. and late wife Nancy Fowler of Washington, Linda I. Urbas and husband Robert of Cecil, and Danial N. Fowler and wife Kathy of Washington; eight grandchildren, Travis Fowler, Cynthia and husband Jerome Elston, Stephen and wife Michele Fowler, Jeremy and wife Meredith Urbas, Shannan Urbas, Derek Fowler, Jonathan (Ryan) Fowler and Allyshia and husband Matthew Kohosek; 14 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; as well as several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by two granddaughters, Christina Fowler and Marcie Dickholtz; brothers, Stanley Fowler and Clarence Fowler; as well as a sister, Noreen Fowler Hull.

Family and friends will be received from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, in the Nichol Funeral Home, 1873 East Maiden Street, Washington, where funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 13, 2022, with Pastor Linda Mankey officiating. Interment will follow in Bethlehem Lutheran Church Cemetery.

Military Honors will be accorded by American Legion Post 175 of Washington.

An online guestbook may be signed at nicholfuneralhome.com.