Thomas "Tommy, Tom, or TR" Roberts Fowler

Thomas Roberts Fowler, 89, died on Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at MedStar Montgomery General Hospital in Olney, Maryland with his family at his side. He had suffered a stroke in 2019, but had managed the few complications until they recently returned and he succumbed to them.

TR was born June 16, 1934 in Lake City, Florida to Allene and Howard Fowler. He attended his elementary and high school years there where he excelled in band and sports. He was a state champion in Florida’s state’s .high school championship competition. He played the trumpet in his high school marching band and wore the the required WOOL uniforms (which he never forgot because of the Florida heat!).

His family belonged to the Lake City Presbyterian Church through which he participated in the Boy Scouts of America. He became an Eagle Scout.

While attending the University of Florida, he joined and participated in activities of the Signa Phi Epsilon fraternity. He remained life long friends with many of his fraternity brothers, including his boyhood friend, Dickie Hodgekins.

After leaving college, he enlisted in a special training program with the United States Air Force to learn to fly T6G training planes. This was a highlight of his life and he continued throughout his life to have an interest in these planes. He was honorably discharged from the USAF in 1957.

Tom briefly lived in San Francisco, California before returning to Florida where he began a lifetime career of working in data processing. He worked at Martin-Marietta in Orlando, Florida for a few years before moving to Daytona Beach, Florida where he worked at General Electric Corporation. He met Katherine Wheeler in Daytona Beach and they married on December 28,1968 in Atlanta, Georgia. The two were soulmates—lifelong companions and best friends. They were blessed with three children—Andre, Darlene, and Sherri.

Thomas and his wife moved to Maryland where he worked in data processing as a contractor until he became permanently employed with Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission. He retired from that organization as a programmer/systems analyst in the 1980’s and began a second career in real estate investment .

His hobbies included ice hockey, soccer(goalie), and tinkering with cars. He belonged to a local Camara Car Club and briefly owned a drag racing Camara which he “remade” and took to the local drag racing track. Music was always a part of his life, too. And, he had a wry sense of humor and grin. Tom was an avid movie watcher, especially older films. He belonged to a local Play Group where he enjoyed acting out parts in various plays.

Thomas is survived by his wife of 54 years, Kathy, and their children: Andre (Terry) Fowler, Darlene(Tom S.)Fowler, and Sherri(Brian) Olson; four grandchildren—Mallory Fowler, Daniel Thomas Olson(they share the same birthday), Brenna Fowler, and Nicholas Olson; sister-in-law Margaret Fowler; brother-in-law Richard Wheeler; nephews Kent Fowler and Troy Wheeler and niece Ashley Wheeler Dawson.

He was preceded in death by his younger brother, John Fowler; his nephew, Scot Fowler; and his brother-in-law, Jerry Wheeler.

A memorial service is being held for immediate family members only.

“ We will always carry your memory in our hearts!”