Obituary for Jerry Fowler

Jerry Fowler

March 25, 1943 – April 13, 2020

Jerry Allen Fowler, 77, of Ponca City, OK, passed away of natural causes on April 13, 2020, in Oklahoma City, OK. A private graveside service will be held at Odd Fellows Cemetery, with Pastor Robert Harris officiating. Friends and loved ones may stream the graveside ceremony at www.troutfuneralhome.com at 11:00 am Monday, April 20, 2020. Click the live stream link in the top right hand of the Trout Funeral Home page. His children will host a celebration of Jerry’s life at a later date for family and friends Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home and Crematory.

Jerry was born on March 25, 1943, in Ponca City, OK to Joseph Arthur and Alma Lydia (Sober) Fowler. He attended McKinley Elementary, East Junior High, and Ponca City High School graduating in 1961. He enlisted in the US Navy on July 13, 1961 and was Honorably Discharged on July 12, 1965 after serving on the USS Hamner DD-718 as a boiler repair foreman. During his time in the service, he had many different port stops; however, one particular port stop stands out above all the rest. In August of 1964, he was walking around the annual Sea Fair festival in Seattle, WA and met Danna McKune. They quickly fell in love and were married two weeks later on August 27, 1964, in National City, CA. Even though one minister told them their marriage wouldn’t last a year, they still loved each other intensely 54 years later.

After returning home from the service, Jerry worked in the construction field taking a few years off while serving as a policeman for the Ponca City Police Department. Later on, he drove a bus for Northern Oklahoma College, and also the Guy Lombardi Orchestra, which his son James performed with, worked as a wrecker driver and dispatcher for Jay Warner’s Body Shop, and then drove trucks until his retirement from Groendyke Transport Inc. While driving for Groendyke’s, he qualified to compete at the State of Oklahoma Truck Driving Championships three years in a row.

In the early years, Jerry and his wife were known for hosting community Halloween parties in their barn; he especially loved scaring the kids by dressing up as the Headless Horseman using their horse, Pal. He actively supported his children through their school years by serving on the Jefferson Elementary PTA, Instrumental Music Parents Association, coaching his son John’s little league baseball team, and attending numerous instrumental music concerts. He also served his church as a Sunday School teacher, song leader, and as a sponsor and bus driver for Falls Creek campground.

The final years of his life were spent in devotion as a caretaker to his loving wife.

Survivors include his children: Jacquie Jones and husband Ronald of Lexington, OK, Kim Hutchison of Mt. Angel, OR, Lisa Gruver of Wichita, KS, James Fowler and wife Eve of Crownsville, MD, Meri Welch and husband Raymond of Oklahoma City, Nicki Gaisford and significant other Doug Broyles, of Shattuck, OK, John Fowler and husband Jacob Stieber of Oklahoma City, 14 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, brother Randy Fowler and wife Barbara of Oklahoma City, as well as several nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, wife Danna, sister Leona Myers, and granddaughter Janelle Fowler.

Honorary pallbearers will be the grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Humanity Hospice, the Special Olympics, or St. Jude’s Children Hospital. The family would like for you to leave memories of Jerry at www.troutfuneralhome.com

Source: Trout Funeral Home