OXFORD – William N. Fowlston, 81, of Oxford and Myrtle Beach, S.C., passed away on Nov. 2, 2009 at the NYS Veterans’ Home, Oxford.
He was born on Oct. 31, 1928 in Oxford a son of the late Leon and Ruth (Hollenbeck) Fowlston. On June 25, 1949 in Oxford, he married Alma “Bridget” Shepler, who survives.
Besides his wife, Bridget, he is survived by his son, Thomas and his wife Janice Fowlston of Hershey, Pa., daughter, Karen Fowlston of Oxford, and daughter, Terri and her husband Frank Branson of Surfside Beach, S.C.; his grandchildren, Lindsay and husband Michael Anthony of New York City, Chase Fowlston of Philadelphia, Pa., Will and Cole Branson of Surfside Beach, S.C.; his brothers and sisters, Robert Fowlston of Norwich, Jeanette Biermann of Oxford, Richard and wife Esther Fowlston of Oxford, Joan Walling of Las Vegas, Nev., and David and wife Linda Fowlston of Greene; his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, John and wife Sandra Shepler of Oxford, and Milton and wife Linda Shepler of Norwich. He was predeceased by his son William A. Fowlston in 1963. Several nieces and nephews also survive.
Bill was a graduate of Oxford Academy and Central School, Class of 1947. He then served in the U.S. Marine Corp, 1st Marine Division until 1950. Upon his discharge he formed Fowlston Trucking, which he operated until 1965. He then worked as a sales representative for Central Asphalt and then he became Safety Director for Suit Kote Corporation, retiring in1993. He was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church of Oxford and the Church of the Resurrection in Surfside Beach. He was a member of the Oxford Hook and Ladder Co. of the Oxford Fire Department. He was a member and past president of the Chenango County Firemen’s Association and helped establish their scholarship fund. He was a member of the Central New York Firemen’s Assn. and served as Chairman of the Parade Rules Committee, judging parades for many years. He was a member and served on the Board of Directors of the NYS Motor Truck Assn. He was a member of the Chenango County Traffic Safety Board. He was an active member of both the Band Boosters and Athletic Boosters of Oxford Academy and Central School. He was instrumental in the placing of the first lights and scoreboard on the high school athletic field. He was a former member of the Oxford Academy and Central School Board of Education. He was a founder of the Chenango County Association of Retarded Citizens Workshop (CWS) and served on the New York State Board of Governors of the ARC for 27 years. He was a member of the Oxford Lions Club.
Funeral services will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Oxford, on Wednesday at 3 p.m. with the Rev. Ralph Osborne, rector, officiating. Burial will be in Riverview Cemetery, Oxford.
Friends may call at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Oxford on Wednesday from 1 p.m. until the time of the service.
Memorial contributions may be made to Chenango County ARC, 17 Midland Dr., Norwich, NY 13815 or the Oxford Fire Department Emergency Squad, PO Box 172, Oxford, NY 13830 or St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 32 Main St., Oxford, NY 13830.