John B. Fowler III

John Bailey Fowler III died peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Saturday, August 1, 2026. He was technically 88, but liked to round up to 89 and even 90 to make sure we knew he had been around the block a few times. John was affectionately known as Poparoonie, Big D, and Big Fella. As a graduate of Wesleyan University in 1959 and Dickinson School of Law in 1962, John was the quintessential country lawyer in Carlisle, Pennsylvania for over sixty years. Dressing smartly in his tweed suit, John worked well into his 80’s making his daily trek to his office at Martson, Deardorff, Williams and Otto. He began his career with Garber and Garber, quickly becoming a partner and then establishing his own law firm Fowler, Adams, Shughart and Rundle. A generalist, John was well-versed in all aspects of the legal system. He served as the assistant to the District Attorney’s office in Cumberland County in 1966 as well as the solicitor to the Cumberland County Sewer Authority. He was everything you would want in an attorney. He listened, never missed a detail, and was committed to fairness, compromise, and building positive relationships. Most importantly, he owned a manilla file folder for everything. His wife of over thirty years, Noreen, passed away in 1996. John held his family together by being fully present to his three children and his six grandchildren. He valued his family above all else. Encouraging, supportive, and understanding, he wanted all to find their path to happiness. Following his beloved Noreen's death, John moved to Charlottesville, VA. There he was supported by his sisters, Nancy and Jean. He then married Carolyn Johnston Fowler in Charlottesville. They spent over a decade together before they amicably divorced. In the last decade of his life, he fell in love with his best friend and partner Victoria Otto who predeceased him in 2022. They were able to create a loving space in the Boiling Springs/Carlisle area to host meals, to listen to old-time Appalachian string band music, and to serve as the center of their two families. In 2022, John moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania to be close to his children. He made a home at Woodcrest Villa Retirement Community. He found friendship with his buddies Pat, Marilyn, and Betty on Wednesday evenings. He played a wicked hand of bridge with Ron, Dolly and Bob. He would say to his children, “My new friends are all so delightful.” The kinship he created in such a short time is a testament to his strength, perseverance and his ability to find joy wherever he was planted. Survivors include daughter Cynthia Fowler and her husband Ken Crouse of Millers Creek, North Carolina; son, John B. Fowler IV and his wife Melissa Fowler of Wrightsville, Pennsylvania; daughter Amanda Fowler and her husband, William Fife of Lancaster, Pennsylvania; twin sister Nancy Dettor of Waynesboro, Virginia; sister, Jean Fowler of Charlottesville ,Virginia; sister, Ann Rogers and brother-in-law, Vince Rogers of Fairfax, Virginia; brother, Robert Fowler and sister-in-law, Patricia Fowler of Hummelstown Pennsylvania; grandchildren: Bailey Moore (née Fowler), Jordan Moore, Aidan Fife, Isabella Fife, Nicole Whitton (née Fowler), Ryan Whitton, Ruby Fowler, and John B. Fowler V. He was preceded in death by his wife, Noreen McKinstry Fowler, his partner, Victoria Otto, brother, David Fowler and granddaughter, Bridgid Noreen Fife. A memorial gathering, in casual attire is planned for September 12th in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Details can be obtained by contacting the family at fowler-amanda@comcast.net. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in John’s name to Hospice & Community Care (www.hospiceandcommunitycare.org).