William Eugene Fowler, 85, of Salem passed away on July 26th, 2026. He was born May 23rd, 1941, in Manhattan, New York to William Sr. and Loretta (Martin) Fowler.
He was of the Catholic faith and a member of St. Theresa of Avila Catholic Church in Salem. At the age of 17, William joined the Navy and would serve 6 years, then at the age of 27 he would join and serve in the Marines during Vietnam. He was a member of Salem American Legion Post 128. He retired from NAL, where he was an operator. He enjoyed fishing and visiting casinos. His greatest joy came from spending time with his family, who he loved deeply.
William is survived by his son: Jeffrey (Cathy) Graham; grandchildren: Cheyenne Graham (fiancé Nick Clark) and Phoenix Graham; sisters: Brenda (Sam) Fenilli and Loretta Blankenship; and sister-in-law: Judy Fowler;
He was preceded in death by his parents: William Sr. and Loretta Fowler; brother: Ron Fowler; and sister: Judy (John) Ashley
A graveside service will be held on August 7th, 2026, at 2:30 pm at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, IL, with full military rites. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Salem American Legion Post 128 and will be accepted at Sutherland-Rankin Funeral Home, PO Box 97, Salem, Illinois 62881. Online condolences may be left by visiting www.sutherlandfuneralhome.com or the Sutherland-Rankin Facebook page.
