Fowler Low

A celebration of life for Fowler Hall Low, Sr., 86 of Cookeville, TN and Cape Canaveral, FL, will be held Saturday, October 27th at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 18 South Walnut Avenue, Cookeville, TN with Scott McKinney officiating. Interment with military honors will follow in Crest Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends beginning at noon at First Baptist Church prior to the service. Fowler died Saturday, October 13, 2018 at his home. The cause of death was IPF, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis with which he had dealt with for over four years. He was born Tuesday, February 9, 1932 in Wilmington, NC, to the late Avery Cobb Low and Susie Kate Hall Low. Fowler was a graduate of New Hanover High School in Wilmington. He was a graduate of Georgia Tech, as were his two brothers and his son. He was a member of the "Ramblin Reck Club," the "Koseme Society" and the "Sigma Chi" fraternity, which he served as president. He has been recognized by the Sigma Chi fraternity as a "Significant Sig" and was a "Life Loyal" member of the Sigma Chi. He was selected to membership in "Who's Who in American Universities and Colleges." He was an ardent supporter of Georgia Tech. Fowler and his wife, Judy, were/are members of ‘The Georgia Tech Founders Council." Upon graduation, he received his commission as an ensign in the navy. He served two years aboard the destroyer, USS JAMES C. OWENS (DD776) as ship's First Lt., assistant gunnery officer and torpedo officer. Upon completion of his navy service, he joined Genesco, Inc. in Nashville, TN as an "executive trainee." For the next 17 years. He served in various management positions with Genesco in Nashville, Trieste, Italy and New York City before joining the Williams Manufacturing Company of Portsmouth, OH as president. Two years later, he returned to Genesco in Nashville where he served as director of Foreign Footwear Operations and in additional management positions before joining G.H. Bass & Company in Wilton, ME as vice-president. In 1984, he rejoined Genesco in Nashville and retired in 2000. At the time of his retirement, he was president and CEO of Johnston & Murphy and a senior vice-president of Genesco. Over his career, Fowler served on a number of boards, non-profits as well as corporate; Employees Credit Association of Nashville, Nashville Better Business Bureau; Escalade, Inc., Portsmouth, OH; Maine Cottage Furniture, Yarmouth, ME; and H.S. Trask & Company, Bozeman, MT. He traveled worldwide, professionally and privately and after retirement he and his beloved wife, Judy, cruised extensively and to every continent except Antarctica. He was an "open water scuba diver," and earned his private pilot license (VFR) several years ago. Fowler was a "student" of the 1861-65 "War for Southern Independence." He was very well read on all aspects of the war and had visited most of the major battlefields, as well as less known locations where activity of interest to him had occurred. His favorite outdoor activity was metal detector searching with fellow enthusiasts in (owner approved) sites for artifacts in Middle Tennessee. He often talked about his parents, his family and the great childhood that he enjoyed and how blessed he was and had always been, "far beyond my worth." Fowler was a patriot, a proud conservative, who loved his family, his country and his church. He was a member of First Baptist Church, Cookeville, TN. He referred to himself as "a sinner saved by grace." Among several cut-outs he kept in his desk drawer was this: DEFINITIONS OF SUCCESS By the American essayist and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson "To laugh often and much: to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you lived. This is to have succeeded." Survivors include his beloved wife of 24 years, Judy Rose Lowe Low, (whom he married June 11, 1994, in Nashville, Tennessee); a daughter and son-in-law, Sheila Kaye Low (Jim) Smith of Falmouth, Maine; brother Avery Cobb (Jenny) Low, Jr. of Savannah, GA; sister Mary Low (Jack) Franks of Hoschton, GA; daughter-in-law , Karen Bloodworth Low of Statesboro, GA; grandchildren Sarah Low (Michael) Jett, Margaret Low (Jake) Hudson, Katie Low (Andy) Jones, Samuel (Aubrey) Low, Jonathan Low, Rachel Low, Hannah Low, James Fowler Smith and Ruth Smith; great-grandchildren, Riley Hudson and Aubrey Hudson; step-children, Amy Godsey (David) Gore of Hilham, TN; Chris Godsey of Monterey, TN; and step-grandchildren, Will Gore and Drew Gore. Fowler was preceded in death by his parents, Avery Cobb and Susie Kate Hall Low; his brother, Kirk Hall Low; wife, Rachel Barnett Low; and son, Fowler Hall Low, Jr. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Putnam County YMCA, 235 Raider Drive, Cookeville, TN 38501. Hooper Huddleston Horner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements (931) 526-6111. You may share your thoughts and memories at www.hhhfunerals.com