Betty "Ricky" Fowler's Obituary
Fowler, Betty Reichey, otherwise known as “Ricky” passed away peacefully on July 27, 2011. She was born in Freehold, New Jersey to Josephine Helena Williams and Daniel Seneca Reichey. Her stepmother Kathryn Parker raised her from the age of eight. She attended Freehold High School from 1934-1937 where she wrote original school cheers and Summered at Manasquan Beach with her parents. From 1937-1941 she attended Trenton State Teachers College, after which she taught Kindergarten in Cranbury, New Jersey from 1941-1945. Ricky joined the Red Cross and served in Linz & Bischofshofen, Austria from 1945-1948 where she met her husband, Del Fowler who was a 1st Lieutenant in the Army. They were married on December 11, 1948 at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY. They had three children: Kathy born in 1950 in Fort Lewis, Washington; John in 1953 in College Station, Texas; and Francine in 1956 back at West Point, New York. Del’s Army assignments took them to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas from ’56 to ’57 and to Munich and Heilbron, Germany from ’58 to ’61. From 1961 to 1971 she raised her children in Alexandria, Virginia. In 1972, she and Del moved to Texas, first to Rockwall, a few years in Austin and finally to Dallas. He preceded her in death in April 2000. Ricky lived at Signature Point and Christian Care retirement communities, and she returned to Rockwall and spent the last year at Essential Living Residential Care in the care of Phil and Linda Nigh. Ricky is survived by her three children, Kathy, John, and Francine, and her grand-daughter Laura, who remember her fondly for her sense of humor, good nature, and her love of the Dallas Cowboys. She had a beautiful singing voice, was never without a joke, and was a joy to be around. She enjoyed life, but as her “golden years” wore on, she knew she was ready to move on. It was her wish that her family celebrate her passing with a celebration of life including “Amazing Grace” and “Hail to the Cowboys.” We will honor her wishes . . . Go Cowboys! Services of remembrance will be held at Noon on Saturday August 6 at the Restland Abbey Chapel, with interment to follow in the Abbey Mausoleum. (13005 Greenville Ave., 972-238-7111). A celebration of her life will be held at Dave and Kathy Irwin’s House, following the interment. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to: Visiting Nurses Association of Texas – Hospice, 1440 W. Mockingbird Lane, Suite 500, Dallas, Texas 75247, Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 4245 Office Parkway, Dallas, Texas 75204, or any foundation that does research on Glaucoma or Macular Degeneration.
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