William "Bill" Fowler, Jr.

Mr. William (Bill) Fowler, age 79, of Ocean Springs, MS, died at home, after a short bout with returning cancer, on Saturday, May 25, 2013. Bill was born in Chrisfield, Kansas, spent most of his childhood in the hills of (Arkansas) near Paris, and had been a coast resident since 1980. Chief Fowler entered the service in 1952 at Lackland AFB, TX and retired in 1983, after serving in Iceland, Louisiana, Spain, Florida, Taiwan, New Mexico, Guam and finally Keesler Medical Center, Mississippi, where he retired. Thereafter he accepted the position as Food Services Director at Stennis Space Center for Johnson Control (which became Pan Am World Services), retiring from that position in 1994 to enjoy a life of travel, bowling and golf. He was a supporter of the arts, particularly Center Stage and Community Concert, of which he was a member for many years. He enjoyed cruising and had travelled all over the world, taking many trips with Bancorp South and other travel groups. He was a member of Lifelong Learning Center, Jackson County, and enjoyed his many friends. He continued to serve Air Force families for many years as usher at the Keesler Chapels and in the Retiree Office prior to Hurricane Katrina. Chief Fowler was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Clarence and sister, Pauline. Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Irene, brothers, John (Nelda) Fowler and Marion (Janette) Fowler, sisters, Dorothy Carrol and Rowena Bynum, two daughters, Mandy (Brian) Smith of Bridgeport, AL and Sandie (Mike) Dellacroce of Fort Myers, FL, his beloved four grandchildren, Nicholas and Ryan Smith and Samantha and Matthew Dellacroce and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorial services will be held at a later date. The Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.