St. Petersburg, FL Ralph L. Fowler, 81, formerly of West Newbury, MA died Saturday October 3rd, 2009 after a brief illness.

Mr. Fowler was born in Somerville, MA on February 12th, 1928, the son of the late Hiram and Louisa (Vogel) Fowler.

He grew up in Plaistow, NH, attending Pollard Elementary School. He went on to graduate from Sanborn Seminary, Kingston, NH and Merrimack College. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II in the Pacific Theater, stationed on Guam, M.I.

After the war, he was employed by AT&T Technologies, formerly Western Electric, in North Andover, MA, as a manufacturing manager and retired in 1983 after thirty-three years of service.

He was a devoted husband and father, an avid Red Sox and N.E. Patriots fan, and while living in MA, enjoyed gardening and genealogy, and was a member of the Vestry at Trinity Episcopal Church.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Janice C. (Gauvin) Fowler of St. Petersburg, FL, three children, Gary L. Fowler and his wife Kathleen of Hampstead, NH, Karen J. Anderson and her husband Robert of St. Petersburg, FL, and David R. Fowler of West Newbury, MA. He is also survived by three grandchildren, Todd J. Anderson, Alison K. Fowler, and Brian R. Fowler.

His family wishes to thank the staff at the Springs Nursing Home in St. Petersburg, FL for their compassionate care.

Calling hours will be at Dole, Childs & Shaw Funeral Home, 148 Main Street, Haverhill, MA on Thursday, October 8th,from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. The funeral mass will be on Friday, October 9th, at Trinity Episcopal Church, White Street, Haverhill, MA at 10:00 A.M. Burial will follow at the Bridge Street Cemetery, West Newbury, MA.

Online condolence may be sent to www.dcsfuneralhome.com