Albert "Bud" Fowler

Albert “Bud” Fowler, 93, of Mentor, passed away, Thursday, October 13, 2022 at Governor’s Pointe, Mentor. He was born December 31, 1928 in Cleveland, to the late Albert and Genevieve Fowler. Albert “Bud” grew up the 2nd of six children in Lakewood, OH. At age nine his father passed away, forcing Bud and his older brother Frank to grow up quickly to help maintain the house and help their mother. He graduated from St. Ignatius High School in 1947 where he participated in hockey and boxing. Soon after that he met the love of his life, Eileen (Baker). They married on Dec. 2, 1950, shortly after receiving a draft notice for the Korean War. He served two years in the army, one year of which was in Korea where he was fortunate enough to be assigned to headquarters, rather than a direct combat role. After returning from Korea, he and Eileen soon began raising a growing family, having Tim, Lynn and Mike roughly one year apart and Dave a couple years later. Their first house in Eastlake quickly became too small so they moved to South Euclid in 1961. They stayed there 32 years and had two more sons, Ed and Brian. Throughout this time Albert “Bud” was taking evening classes at Fenn College, the predecessor to Cleveland State University. He even managed to find time to play on the school hockey team for a while! After 12 years of evening classes, he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 1965. With 5 children with the 6th on the way, he had a big cheering section for his graduation ceremony! Later they added two more members to the household, raising nephews Rich and Tom Williamson during their teenage years. While meeting the challenges of raising a large family, he and Eileen maintained consistency in many of life’s pleasures. Three of the most memorable are: • Time for family activities every Sunday (after church of course). In summer, this often involved boating on Lake Erie. Waterskiing in rough water behind a 15-foot boat is a challenge that every kid should experience! • Gathering with extended family on the holidays. The Fowler side called him Uncle Bud while the Baker side called him Uncle Al but he got along great and was loved by both sides. • Annual summer vacation trips. Whether it was swimming in the ocean for the first time at Virginia Beach, visiting the monuments and museums in Washington DC, or horseback riding at Bootjack Ranch in Canada, there was always something new to look forward to every summer. After long careers at Addressograph Multigraph in Euclid and Loctite Corporation in Warrensville Heights, Albert retired in 1992. Soon after, he and Eileen built a new home on the shore of Lake Murray near Lexington, SC. They enjoyed frequent boating on and swimming in the lake and generously hosted family members who enjoyed a lakefront vacation while visiting. They expanded their social network in their new community by joining the VFW Post 6740 in Leesville and the seniors’ group at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Lexington, where they developed many close friendships. Eileen passed away in 2011, after nearly 61 years of marriage. By then they had moved from the lake house into Lexington for easier maintenance and proximity to services. Albert “Bud” continued to live there until Feb. 2020 when he moved back to Ohio to Governor’s Pointe in Mentor, an assisted living facility. This was probably the worst possible time to enter assisted living with the Covid pandemic about to take hold! He managed to survive the isolation of Covid restrictions, as well as numerous challenges of advancing age. He passed away peacefully on Thursday, the 13th of October at the age of 93. Survivors include his children Lynn (Karl) Kramp, Michael Fowler, Dave Fowler and Edward (Cathy) Fowler; grandchildren Matthew Fowler, Kristopher (Mary) Kramp, Keith (Jennifer) Kramp, Kimberly (Louis) Leyva, Kyle (Shelly) Kramp, Adam (Crystal) Fowler, Aubrie Fowler, Sean Fowler, and Liam Fowler; great-grandchildren Benjamin, Simon, Mark, Kallie, Klaire, Wyatt and Brody; sister, Margaret Fitzgerald and many nieces, nephews and other loving family members and friends. Preceding Bud in death are his wife, Eileen Fowler; sons, Brian and Tim Fowler and siblings, Frank Fowler, John “Jack” Fowler, Mary Jane McCarthy and Anne Burke. The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m., - 12:00 p.m., Saturday, October 22, 2022 at St. Bede the Venerable Catholic Church, 9114 Lakeshore Blvd., Mentor, Ohio 44060. A joint funeral mass for Bud and his son, Tim will be held at 12 noon, at the church. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in Bud’s memory to the American Heart Association, PO Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692 or to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, 333 E. Lancaster Ave, #414 Wynnewood, PA 19096. Arrangements entrusted to the Brunner Sanden Deitrick Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 8466 Mentor Ave., Mentor, Ohio 44060.

Albert "Bud" Fowler

December 31, 1928 - October 13, 2022