FOWLER, TRENTON C.
Trenton Coke Fowler, a longtime Austin resident, died Wednesday, November 24, 2004, at the age of 79, at The Summit in Austin. He was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, on January 10, 1925, to Charles and Julia (Askey) Fowler. In 1943 he graduated from Corpus Christi High School and shortly afterward joined the U.S. Marine Corps. As a member of the elite Marine Raiders he served in the Pacific Theater during World War II and was awarded several commendations including the Bronze Star for bravery. He was honorably discharged on December 21, 1945.
He married Mary Jo Lee of Paris, Texas, on July 20, 1947. They had two children, Cynthia Lee Fowler and Burt Wayne Fowler, and moved to Austin in 1963. Following attendance at Paris Junior College and the University of Texas at Austin, he attended Texas College of Arts and Industries on an athletic scholarship. He graduated from Texas A&I in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education. After graduating from college he worked as a salesman for Texaco, Tenneco, and Pitney-Bowes; and finally for the State of Texas as a Systems Analyst. He retired in 1985 from his position in the Texas State Auditors Department after 20 years of service.
He was an active member of Memorial United Methodist Church for over 40 years. He had a life-long interest in sports, playing football in high school and college where he was captain of the Texas A&I football team. He coached Little League football and baseball in northeast Austin from 1968 to 1973. In his later years he became an avid collector of World War II memorabilia, attended reunions of the Marine Raiders and was an active member of the Texas A&I alumni association and the Javelina Jas-Beens. Trenton will be remembered by family and friends for his love of his country, his love for and dedication to his family, his honesty and determination, and his droll sense of humor.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Mary Jo Fowler of Austin; daughter, Cynthia Fowler and son-in-law, John Meligeni of Mendham, N.J.; son, Burt Fowler and daughter-in-law, Lisa Fowler; granddaughter, Mary Nicole Fowler, grandson, Jason Ramos Fowler, all of Austin; several cousins, nieces, nephews, and loving friends including a very special friend, Carol Hester of Boerne, Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents, an older brother (Charles Burton Fowler), and two infant children.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Friday, December 3, 2004, at Cook-Walden Funeral Home. An additional visitation will be held at 9:30 a.m., followed by funeral services at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, December 4, 2004, at Memorial United Methodist Church in Austin, Texas. Interment will follow at Cook- Walden/Capital Parks Cemetery, 14501 N. IH-35 in Pflugerville, Texas. The family is grateful to the members of Memorial United Methodist Church for their support; Dawn Lakamsani and neighbors Tom and Mary O Hare for their kind assistance; and the staff at The Summit at Westlake for their compassion and excellent care.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made in memory of Trenton to the American Diabetes Association, 4425 W. Airport Freeway, Ste 130, Irving, Texas 75062 or to the Memorial Fund of The Memorial United Methodist Church, 6100 Berkman Austin, Texas 78723.