Maurice Robert Fowler; Army Officer, Public Relations Manager
A funeral will be held Thursday, Veterans Day, for Maurice Robert Fowler, a career Army officer and retired corporate public relations manager who drowned last week in his backyard swimming pool, eight days before his 84th birthday.
Fowler, who had a history of heart trouble, was alone trimming a tree at his Studio City home when he somehow fell into the pool and died, his daughter, Denise Schwartz, said.
Born in Indianapolis, he was a child prodigy soprano and appeared as an extra in 300 films, including “Gone With the Wind” (1939) and “Union Pacific” (1939).
During his 20-year military career that began in December 1941, he served with several companies, including the 40th, 82nd Airborne and the 13th divisions, ultimately earning the rank of lieutenant colonel. As Army public relations officer for the continental United States, he coordinated events surrounding Queen Elizabeth’s 1957 visit to Virginia. He also worked as a technical advisor on behalf of the Army with the radio, television and motion picture industries on the West Coast.
After his retirement from the Army in 1962, he worked for 23 years for Douglas Aircraft Co. and later for McDonnell Douglas Corp. as a corporate public relations manager handling film and television production, distribution and promotion for the company.
Fowler was also a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary-Civil Air Patrol, past commander of the San Fernando Valley chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars and past president of the Hal Conners Chapter of the Reserve Officers Assn.
In 1983, National Presiding Episcopal Bishop Allin awarded Fowler the Cross of St. George for arranging clothing donations to a Korean orphanage during the Korean War, in addition to his work with the Boy Scouts in Virginia and California. In 1996, he received the Medal of Merit as a member of the Reagan Presidential Task Force.
In addition to his daughter, Fowler is survived by his wife of 53 years, Bernice; sons Robert of Simi Valley and Douglas of Burbank; and three grandchildren.
Visitation will be held from 7 to 9 tonight, with a 1 p.m. funeral Thursday at Forest Lawn Memorial-Park, 6300 Forest Lawn Drive, in the Hollywood Hills. The service will include a flyover by the Condor Squadron.
A reception will follow at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, 3646 Coldwater Canyon Ave., Studio City. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Condor Squadron No. 35, in care of Richard T. Sykes, Condor Squadron commander, 7625 Hayvenhurst Ave., Van Nuys 91406.