Lila M Fowler

Lila M. Fowler passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 1st, 2024.  Growing up in Ohio, and attending Linden McKinley High School, she met the love of her life, Charles A. Fowler, III.

They married in 1954 when she was 19, and Chuck was 22, and headed to San Francisco, CA for a year, where Chuck was stationed in the Air Force, before moving across the country to Northeastern Maine.

After the Air Force, Lila and Chuck bought a home back In their hometown of Columbus, Ohio, to be near family and friends, and to start their family. 

Lila welcomed 4 children, Mike, Mark, Melanie and Michelle, and was a full time mother and homemaker for many years. 

Lila became a teacher’s aide/assistant in the Columbus Public School System and worked with autistic and special needs children; a job she was very good at.  As a mother of four grown children, she had a lot of patience, understanding, knowledge and compassion to share with the kids and she enjoyed the experience as much as the students enjoyed her. 

Lila enjoyed playing cards, like euchre and solitaire, and for many years had monthly euchre games with the women of the neighborhood.  Lila also loved reading, and would be known to read a few books a week, mostly romance novels. 

Lila also loved word searches and crossword puzzles.  Lila and Chuck would start their day with the paper,   a cup of coffee and doing the crossword puzzle together. 

Lila was a devoted wife to her husband Chuck.  They were married for almost 70 years before he passed away in February 2024.  They were truly each other’s soul mates, and a perfect role model to others of what a marriage should be.  They were always holding hands, giving each other a sweet kiss, and telling each other , “I love you.”

Lila is preceded in death by her husband, Charles A. Fowler, III, her parents, Andy and Helen Middlesworth,  and in laws, Charles A. Fowler, II, and Letha (Duffy) Fowler, brothers Bill Middlesworth and wife Pat, brother Paul Middlesworth and wife Judy,  sister and brother in law, Olivia(Hope) Volpe and Al Volpe, daughter Michelle Halley and son Mark Fowler and wife Darcy Fowler.  She is survived by son Mike Fowler (ex-wife Vicci Whetnall), daughter Melanie Fortunato(Dan) Fortunato, son in law Bruce Halley and wife Linda, and her grandchildren, Matthew and Melissa Fowler,  Kristen (Colin)Brennan, Mallory (john) Duffy, Daniel (Danielle) Fortunato, Brendan Halley,  Brittany Whetnall and fiancé Sean Smith, and great grandchildren, Arlo Jett Smith, and Thomas Joseph Duffy.  Nieces and nephews Dex (Jean) Volpe, Vicki Volpe, Laura (Mark) Bennett, Marylou(Michael) McDonald, Andy (Carol) Middlesworth, John (Jan) Middlesworth and Debbie, Tammy, Jenny and Susie Middlesworth. 

A celebration of her incredible life will be held on Friday, November 8th from 4-7PM at JERRY SPEARS FUNERAL HOME of HILLIARD, 5471 Frazell Rd. Hilliard, OH 43026.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her honor to Lifeline of Ohio, or the dementia society. 

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