Dean Fowler

Dean Fowler, 91, a longtime resident of Chambersburg, passed away peacefully on June 11, 2025. 

Born on February 4th, in Chambersburg, Dean was a graduate of Chambersburg High School, class of 1952. He served as a high speed radio operator in the US Army Security Agency stationed in Japan during the Korean War. After returning home, he served in the Pennsylvania National Guard. In 1959, Dean received a B.S. in Education at Shippensburg Teachers College. He was a fifth grade teacher in Scotland, PA for four years before beginning a 32 year career with the United Telephone Company (Sprint), which took him and his family to many towns in Pennsylvania. After retiring in 1994, he worked as a part-time courier at the Orrstown Bank.

Dean had many interests including hiking (especially day hikes on the Appalachian Trail), building airplane models, birdwatching, swimming, traveling (often with Elderhostel), reading, and wood carving, especially decoys and shorebirds, the latter which earned him the WITF judges’ award.  If you are one of the lucky ones you have a bird, train, or airplane carved and painted by Dean. He genuinely enjoyed teaching English as a Second Language in Kyoto, Japan, through a cultural exchange with his good friend Professor Fujii. He was also an avid cycler; in 1980 he bicycled across the entire width of Pennsylvania solo.

Dean had a special interest in volunteer projects.  He served as treasurer of the Bedford J.C.’s and on the Carlisle Area United Way Board of Directors.  He was a member of the Carlisle Rotary, the Columbia Rotary and Kiwanis International.   He served in various positions throughout the years. 

Dean was a great father, loving husband and dear friend to many. Friendships were especially important to Dean, he regularly enjoyed gatherings with his friends at Menno Haven, meeting with high school and telephone company friends, and breakfasts with his R.O.M.E.O. Group.  

Dean is survived by his beloved wife of 16 years, Nancy Crouse, his children: Brian (Samantha) Fowler and family (Stephanie, Steven and Timothy), another son, a daughter (son-in-law), step-children: Daniel (Alison) Crouse and children (Morgan and Elizabeth), and Mark (Sheila) Crouse and by many loving extended family members and dear friends.  Dean was preceded in death by his first wife, Doris Decker Fowler in 2004.  

Dean will be profoundly missed by family, friends, and all who knew him. 

Memorial service at the Brookview Chapel, Menno Haven Brookview Health Care Center, 1000 Northfield Drive, Chambersburg, PA 17201, will be held on Saturday, August 16 at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, it was Dean’s wish that contributions be made to the Bosler Library, Carlisle, PA. 

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