A memorial service is 4:30 p.m. today at Carson Valley United Methodist Church in Gardnerville for 45-year Douglas County resident Donald Lewis Fowler, 71, who died Oct. 25, 2008.
Born June 1, 1937, he served as chief of police in Walters, Okla., and was a Douglas County Sheriff's deputy.
Mr. Fowler started the first drug awareness program in the schools called "Mr. Bill." He started Bitty Basketball after school for Carson Valley children and the first recreation place for children and teens to play pool, pingpong and pinball.
He coached one of the first Pop Warner teams in the Valley and Babe Ruth baseball. Mr. Fowler played football in college and semi-pro-football. He loved sports.
He is survived by wife, Pat; children Sherry Campbell, Dawn and Mark Cervenak, Tanya and Sid Capps, Patrick and Monica Fowler, Hope and Brett High, Keith and Christy Fowler, Jessie and Diane Fowler; 22 grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
