Dorothy M. Fowler

Dorothy M. Fowler, 93, of Carmel, IN, formerly of Middlebury, IN, sweetly crossed into eternal life at 1:45 am, on Saturday, November 25, 2023, at Brookdale Senior Living, Carmel, IN, with family at her side. Dorothy was born on January 3, 1930, in Connersville, IN, to Ernest and Sarah Irene (Aumiller) Crutchfield. She accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior at a young age at the Connersville Church of God. The Crutchfield family moved to Dayton, OH, where Dorothy attended public schools, completing three years at Roosevelt High School. Upon returning to Connersville, Dorothy proudly graduated from Connersville High School where she was a cheerleader, played the trombone in the band, and was in the Latin Club. After graduation, Dorothy worked as a Bell Telephone switch board operator, soda jerk, and in a paint/ wallpaper store. From there she took a position at the Soldiers and Sailors Children's home in Knightstown, IN, where she taught the orphaned children and was their house mother for 4 years. She then joined her parents in Mishawaka, IN, to help her mother with younger siblings. At a Youth for Christ meeting in Valparaiso, IN, she met the love of her life, George Fowler. They wed on March 15, 1952, in St. Joe County, IN, and honeymooned on a trip on Route 66 to Los Angeles, CA. Dorothy and George were the proud parents of 8 children. Dorothy was a loving and devoted homemaker. She and George faithfully followed their children in their development of scouts, music, theater, and sports. After her children were of school age, Dorothy took a job at Mishawaka High School as a secretary in the Dean of Students and Athletic Office for 18 years. She was very active in the Church of the Nazarene playing the piano and organ. She served as Missionary President in both South Side and South Bend First churches, organizing numerous mission trips. She also attended Shipshewana Church of the Nazarene and First United Methodist Church, Middlebury. She and George enjoyed traveling in four continents.

Surviving are four daughters, Rebecca (John) Brim of Anderson, SC, Martha (Dale) Lenderts of Appleton, WI, Mary E. (Charles)

Durazo of Fishers, Laura (Wesley) Sampson of Greencastle, IN; four sons, Daniel J. (Jennifer) Fowler of Camarillo, CA, Stephen H. (Tara) Fowler of Knoxville, TN, George M. (Mandy) Fowler of Elkhart, IN, Paul F. (Erika) Fowler of Fishers, IN; 19 grandchildren, and 16 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by her parents Ernest and Irene Crutchfield, husband George Fowler, sisters Deborah Jo Crutchfield and Majorie (Jack) Darby; brother Jerry (Mary Ann) Crutchfield and grandsons Ryan Brim and Caleb Fowler.

Visitation will be from 1:00 to 2:30 pm on Friday December 15, 2023, at Miller-Stewart Funeral Home, 1003 South Main Street Middlebury, IN. Funeral services will be at 2:30 pm on Friday December 15, 2023, at the funeral home. Services will be conducted by Pastor Andy Dayton. The burial will be in Grace Lawn Cemetery, Middlebury, IN. Memorials may be given to South Bend First Church of the Nazarene Missions. Online condolences may be offered at millerstewartfuneralhome.com.