William and Mary Etta Fowler
February 16th, 2025
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William and Mary Etta's Obituary
William (Bill) Ray Fowler, age 88, passed away on Thursday, January 30, 2025, at the Hanson Hospice Center surrounded by his loving family. He was born on March 27, 1936, to Raymond and Arlowyne (Brenner) Fowler at home in Berrien Center, Michigan. Bill Fowler grew up in the area, attending and graduating from Benton Harbor High School. Bill was a great athlete for his school, playing basketball, football, and of course baseball. As a varsity freshman baseball player, Bill was recognized with many articles in the paper about his pitching ability. His love for the game was passed on to kids in the Benton Harbor area, as Bill encouraged and coached them at the local little league fields.
Mary Etta (Ridgeway) Fowler, age 90, passed away at her home on Friday, February 7, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. Mary Etta was born on May 18, 1934, to Ralph and Velda (Warner) Ridgeway in Plymouth, IN. Mary Etta attended St. Joseph High School. She was involved in sports, including softball and basketball, and graduated in 1952. Mary Etta was involved in St. Joseph/Blossomtime pageants and had thoughts of attending modeling school in Chicago after high school.
Bill and Mary Etta met at the House of David in Benton Harbor as teenagers. They fell in love and were married on July 25, 1954. They welcomed 3 children, Lance, Lauren, and Lisa, and raised them in Stevensville. They were lifelong residents of Berrien County except for the 3 years that Bill’s work took them to New York. Bill worked in the plastic industry for his whole career, including Modern Plastic and Collins and Aikman, until he retired in 2001. Except for the 3 years in New York, Mary Etta worked for Peoples State Bank (Fifth Third) in St. Joseph right after graduating high school and continued until her retirement in the late 1990’s.
Their next adventure was creating and growing a local transportation business, Lighthouse Concierge. Bill enjoyed driving his clients to many different destinations, while Mary Etta managed the books. This business kept them busy until 2014 when they both decided to officially retire.
During retirement, Bill and Mary Etta spent time with their grown children, taking trips to various locations out west, Mississippi, and Cancun. They were also big supporters/advocates for law enforcement, as Bills brother, and several grandkids work in this field. Bill and Mary Etta always loved sports, especially baseball. As a house divided, Bill loved his Detroit Tigers, while Mary Etta loved her Chicago Cubs. They enjoyed watching any baseball game they could, in person or on TV. Bill is still remembered fondly by many friends in the area for teaching them baseball and spreading his love of the game.
A memorial service for William and Mary Etta Fowler will take place at 2:00 pm on Sunday, February 16, 2025, at the Starks and Menchinger Chapel (2650 Niles Rd.). Visitation with the family will take place one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. The family encourages family and friends to wear their favorite baseball/sports attire to the funeral. For a more lasting memory, donations in the Fowler name can be made out to either the Hanson Hospice Center or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Feel free to share a memory with the family on their online tribute wall at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Bill was survived by his wife Mary Etta (Ridgeway) Fowler for 9 days until she joined him in heaven. They are both survived by their children Lance Fowler, Laurie (John) House; grandchildren Erik (Natalie) House, Erin (Scott) Kuhl, Emily (Robert) Bressler, Sarah (Derek) Lintjer, Alison (Tim) Updyke, Jake Spagnola; and many great grandchildren, nieces and nephews; Bill is survived by his brother Kim (Cheri) Fowler and Mary Etta is survived by her brother Kenneth Ridgeway. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Arlowyne Fowler; a sister, Connie, that died shortly after birth. Mary Etta was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Velda Ridgeway; They were both preceded in death by their youngest daughter, Lisa Fein.
Mary Etta (Ridgeway) Fowler, age 90, passed away at her home on Friday, February 7, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. Mary Etta was born on May 18, 1934, to Ralph and Velda (Warner) Ridgeway in Plymouth, IN. Mary Etta attended St. Joseph High School. She was involved in sports, including softball and basketball, and graduated in 1952. Mary Etta was involved in St. Joseph/Blossomtime pageants and had thoughts of attending modeling school in Chicago after high school.
Bill and Mary Etta met at the House of David in Benton Harbor as teenagers. They fell in love and were married on July 25, 1954. They welcomed 3 children, Lance, Lauren, and Lisa, and raised them in Stevensville. They were lifelong residents of Berrien County except for the 3 years that Bill’s work took them to New York. Bill worked in the plastic industry for his whole career, including Modern Plastic and Collins and Aikman, until he retired in 2001. Except for the 3 years in New York, Mary Etta worked for Peoples State Bank (Fifth Third) in St. Joseph right after graduating high school and continued until her retirement in the late 1990’s.
Their next adventure was creating and growing a local transportation business, Lighthouse Concierge. Bill enjoyed driving his clients to many different destinations, while Mary Etta managed the books. This business kept them busy until 2014 when they both decided to officially retire.
During retirement, Bill and Mary Etta spent time with their grown children, taking trips to various locations out west, Mississippi, and Cancun. They were also big supporters/advocates for law enforcement, as Bills brother, and several grandkids work in this field. Bill and Mary Etta always loved sports, especially baseball. As a house divided, Bill loved his Detroit Tigers, while Mary Etta loved her Chicago Cubs. They enjoyed watching any baseball game they could, in person or on TV. Bill is still remembered fondly by many friends in the area for teaching them baseball and spreading his love of the game.
A memorial service for William and Mary Etta Fowler will take place at 2:00 pm on Sunday, February 16, 2025, at the Starks and Menchinger Chapel (2650 Niles Rd.). Visitation with the family will take place one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. The family encourages family and friends to wear their favorite baseball/sports attire to the funeral. For a more lasting memory, donations in the Fowler name can be made out to either the Hanson Hospice Center or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Feel free to share a memory with the family on their online tribute wall at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Bill was survived by his wife Mary Etta (Ridgeway) Fowler for 9 days until she joined him in heaven. They are both survived by their children Lance Fowler, Laurie (John) House; grandchildren Erik (Natalie) House, Erin (Scott) Kuhl, Emily (Robert) Bressler, Sarah (Derek) Lintjer, Alison (Tim) Updyke, Jake Spagnola; and many great grandchildren, nieces and nephews; Bill is survived by his brother Kim (Cheri) Fowler and Mary Etta is survived by her brother Kenneth Ridgeway. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Arlowyne Fowler; a sister, Connie, that died shortly after birth. Mary Etta was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Velda Ridgeway; They were both preceded in death by their youngest daughter, Lisa Fein.
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