Robert Forrest Fowler Jr.

Robert “Bob” Forrest Fowler II died on Sunday, November 20, 2022, surrounded by loved ones at his home in Atlanta, Ga., after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 79. Born in Pasadena, Calif., on October 4, 1943, he was the son of the late Robert Forrest Fowler and late Virginia Dare Saunders Fowler.

He is survived by his loving wife Marjorie “Marge” of 43 years; his two devoted children, Elizabeth (Brian) Vigil of Denver, Colo., and Robert (Jenny) Fowler III of Charlotte, N.C.; three precious grandchildren, Lily, Walker and Forrest IV; and sister, Jeanne Forrest of Fords Colony, Va.

After graduating from Norfolk Academy in 1962, Bob went on to become a Distinguished Military Graduate at the Virginia Military Institute in 1966. He later earned an MBA in International Business and Finance from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business.

After graduating VMI, Bob enlisted in the U.S. Army and served his country for two years while stationed in Germany. During his service in Europe, he managed the nuclear warheads in NATO’s nuclear arsenal, including negotiating with other NATO countries on nuclear missile sites.

Once he returned to civilian life, Bob began his consulting career with Fails Management Institute in Raleigh, N.C. An entrepreneur at heart, he soon realized he wanted to start his own firm and founded Robert Fowler & Associates in Atlanta. For nearly 30 years, Bob served as a management consultant and interim CFO for multiple companies, including several privately-owned, national/international businesses that sought his guidance with succession planning, restructuring, and general finance. Officially retired at age 65, Bob remained a frequent and trusted advisor to his two children on their business pursuits.

Bob developed a passion for golf at a young age, beginning at 15 with a makeshift backyard green his father built. While his playing was limited during his time at VMI, he served as the golf team manager. A longtime member of the Capital City Club in Atlanta, Bob proudly achieved and maintained his goal of a single-digit handicap for many years. He established the successful Crabapple Senior Invitational for amateur senior golfers at the Capital City’s Crabapple course, which he ran for 12 years. He was a Director Emeritus at the Georgia State Golf Association, where he volunteered for nearly three decades, serving in multiple roles, including rules official and tournament starter, as well on the Historic Preservation, Strategic Planning, and Finance committees. In his later years, he enjoyed giving golf lessons to close friends and occasionally strangers at the airport. His favorite: "A man who can putt is a match for anyone." Willie Park, Jr.

Bob was a man of faith, and his relationship with Jesus Christ grew even stronger in his final years. An active member of The Church of the Apostles in Atlanta, he started and led a weekly Bible study through Apostles in his home for 15 years, later leading a small men’s group focused on living in the Kingdom of God.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, Dec. 5, at 11 a.m. in the chapel at The Church of the Apostles, located at 3585 Northside Pkwy NW, Atlanta, GA 30327. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Georgia Folds of Honor or Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University.