Gary W. Fowler, 66, of Ben Hill County, Georgia, died Thursday, August 26, 2021, at Dorminy Medical Center in Fitzgerald, Georgia.
Graveside services will be held 3 PM, Sunday, August 29, 2021, at Salem Cemetery in Ben Hill County, Georgia, with the Rev. Tommy Land, Jr. officiating. The family will greet friends prior to the graveside.
Gary was born January 6, 1955, in Turner County, Georgia, to the late Thomas Winfred & Mildred “Mickey” Joyce Minshew Fowler. He was a 1974 graduate of Fitzgerald High School and graduated from Ben Hill-Irwin Tech. Gary was kind of like an onion. You had to peel back the layers to get to know him. Those that took the time to peel those layers back were truly enriched with a beautiful friendship. He was trustworthy and dependable. He said what he thought and never sugar coated anything. He was particular and wanted things done right and he was there to make sure that happened. He married the most perfect woman. There could not have been a better person for Gary than Beth. They were married 42 years and she took great care of him every single day. Together they had a beautiful marriage and family.
In his younger years, he worked for the railroad. Then he went to work for the cotton gin in Rebecca all while farming on the side. Farming was his passion so eventually he quit the cotton gin and farmed full time. He farmed until he retired a few years ago but even then, he liked to make sure the farmers were tending to his land the way he would have. His garden became extra-large after quitting farming and friends and neighbors were blessed with the fruits of his labor.
He took much pride in his one and only daughter, teaching her to hunt, be humble, and kind. He always called her “boy” because really he wanted a boy but that wasn’t God’s plan. He didn’t say it often, but he was so proud of her and his grand babies.
He loved guns and hunting. Was he a sniper?! We’re not sure, but his accuracy was pretty spot on. He’d spend hours sighting in guns so that when the perfect buck walked out there was no chance of him missing. One can still hear him saying “watch that scope, don’t bump it.” He was so excited to finally have a grandson and he couldn’t wait to take him hunting. When Kip shoots his first deer, we know Gary will be there watching with a proud grin on his face.
Gary grew up going to Rebecca Baptist Church and when he married Beth they started going to Salem Baptist Church. He raised his family in that church and tried to be the best example he could be. He loved telling people about the Lord. He would go on for hours preaching to people if they didn’t cut him off. For certain he is rejoicing with the Lord and Beth now. He said many times in his last few days he was ready to go see his wife. God took him Home, just like he was wanting and now he is made whole.
He is survived by a daughter, Kaylyn & Adam Venteicher of Pierce, Nebraska; grandchildren: Adley Kay Venteicher, Kip Clemens Venteicher, and Anna Beth Venteicher; two brothers: Kyle & Elaine Fowler and Kelly Fowler, all of Ben Hill County; two aunts: Betty Lou Vickers of Wray and Nellie Faye Odom of Ashburn; many nieces and nephews and his best friend, Wade Ball of Abbeville. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Beth Griffin Fowler on August 15, 2021; a brother, Tracy Kim Fowler; and a sister, Ginger Fowler Reeves.