The memorial service was held today for Fowler Stanton a special mentor of my high school days. Let's think about; a fellow from a curve in the road in the edge of Putnam county who is named ' Fowler!' Now give me a break: a Fowler is a guy that trains and uses birds of prey for hunting. He was destined to do great things with a name like that!
It was a great service; complete with a wind ensemble, a 40+ choir, a piper (Amazing Grace, of course) a flag ceremony and a Dixieland Band as the service ended. WHAT A MEMORIAL SERVICE!
I was able to speak with Sarah Smith (sister of Sam and Daughter of Ervin, our beloved principal) the Amonette Brothers; Jackie and Billy Jolly (finer trumpeter's never came our way). I spied Elane Wilburn, saw Carl Ballinger (I think) in the choir.
Fowler Stanton was a special guy. Who knew about his military record? He was the 'song flute' KING. We who became band directors should have followed his example.
Little did I know that there was no budget for band at Macon Co!
The event caused me to decide on a set of themes for my life, so far:
On aging: "Don't Blink" a Kenny Chesney song
On living: "Gimme Three Steps!"
On changing: "I'm Still Crazy After all These Years"
Here's the Obituary
SMITHVILLE -- Memorial services for Fowler G. Stanton, 88, of Smithville, will be held Saturday, March 6, at 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Smithville. The family will receive friends today, Friday, March 5, from 4-8 p.m. at the C.F.C. building of the church. Mr. Stanton's wishes were for his former students to arrive at the memorial service one hour early for a special tribute in song. Mr. Stanton died Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010, in DeKalb Community Hospital. He was born Sept. 17, 1921, in the Gentry Community of Putnam County to the late Della Starr Sanders and George Mizell Stanton.
Fowler began his musical career at the age of three when his mother and aunt taught him how to play the piano and various string instruments as well as singing. Since that early age he grew up to respect and appreciate all kinds of music. He graduated from Baxter Seminary and enrolled at Tennessee Technological University in 1940. The war interrupted his schooling, but he returned after the war to TTU and received his B.S. in music education in 1950 and obtained a Master's Degree from Peabody College in 1952. He continued in studies, more specifically in the areas of voice with the famed vocalist instructor Constance Ohlinger of Germany, and American voice teacher Jean Taylor at the Chicago Conservatory. After his studies, Fowler began his teaching career, organizing, developing and directing a number of top-rated bands at Jackson, Smith and DeKalb County high schools that represented the State of Tennessee at the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C., Disneyland Centennial in Orlando, Fla., various state and local parades, athletic events, dedications and community events. His teaching experience extended from all grade levels through senior college. In later years he helped with the organization and judging of the annual Smithville Jamboree each year.
Fowler served in the Navy during World War II as an aircraft turret gunner, and during one three-day stretch, his crew flew 55 missions while participating in the battles of Luzon, Leyte Gulf, Mindoro, Mindanaro and Manila Bay, until their badly shot up aircraft had to leave the battle zone managing to fly back to and make a crash landing on their home aircraft carrier. The original citation recommending the Air Medal was lost during the fierce battles and records were reconstructed later and Gunner Stanton was awarded the Air Medal in June of 2002, some 57 years after the fact. In addition to the Air Medal he was awarded the American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with three stars, Navy Occupational Medal, China Service Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, Philippine Presidential Unit Citation and the World War II Victory Medal.
In 1970 Mr. Stanton was united in marriage to Oleta Robbins from Byrdstown and they made their home in Smithvillle, where they were both members of First United Methodist Church of Smithville. His family includes his wife, Oleta Stanton of Smithville; a sister, Evelyn Harding of Lebanon; two daughters and sons-in-law, Melody and Dr. Tim Foster of Old Hickory and Sonata and Randy Rayburn of Nashville; a stepdaughter and son-in-law, Donna Jane and Pat Clements of Nashville; a stepson and daughter-in-law, Harold Edward and Vicki Copeland of Cookeville; two granddaughters, Lauren and Katie Foster; and three grandsons, Duke Rayburn and Ethan and Braden Copeland. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Tommy Stanton. Memorial donations may be made to the music department of the schools where he taught: Jackson County High School, Smith County High School or DeKalb County High School. Bro. Terry Little and Dr. John Purdue will officiate the services. Bass Funeral Homes, Carthage Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.
It was a great service; complete with a wind ensemble, a 40+ choir, a piper (Amazing Grace, of course) a flag ceremony and a Dixieland Band as the service ended. WHAT A MEMORIAL SERVICE!
I was able to speak with Sarah Smith (sister of Sam and Daughter of Ervin, our beloved principal) the Amonette Brothers; Jackie and Billy Jolly (finer trumpeter's never came our way). I spied Elane Wilburn, saw Carl Ballinger (I think) in the choir.
Fowler Stanton was a special guy. Who knew about his military record? He was the 'song flute' KING. We who became band directors should have followed his example.
Little did I know that there was no budget for band at Macon Co!
The event caused me to decide on a set of themes for my life, so far:
On aging: "Don't Blink" a Kenny Chesney song
On living: "Gimme Three Steps!"
On changing: "I'm Still Crazy After all These Years"
Here's the Obituary
SMITHVILLE -- Memorial services for Fowler G. Stanton, 88, of Smithville, will be held Saturday, March 6, at 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Smithville. The family will receive friends today, Friday, March 5, from 4-8 p.m. at the C.F.C. building of the church. Mr. Stanton's wishes were for his former students to arrive at the memorial service one hour early for a special tribute in song. Mr. Stanton died Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010, in DeKalb Community Hospital. He was born Sept. 17, 1921, in the Gentry Community of Putnam County to the late Della Starr Sanders and George Mizell Stanton.
Fowler began his musical career at the age of three when his mother and aunt taught him how to play the piano and various string instruments as well as singing. Since that early age he grew up to respect and appreciate all kinds of music. He graduated from Baxter Seminary and enrolled at Tennessee Technological University in 1940. The war interrupted his schooling, but he returned after the war to TTU and received his B.S. in music education in 1950 and obtained a Master's Degree from Peabody College in 1952. He continued in studies, more specifically in the areas of voice with the famed vocalist instructor Constance Ohlinger of Germany, and American voice teacher Jean Taylor at the Chicago Conservatory. After his studies, Fowler began his teaching career, organizing, developing and directing a number of top-rated bands at Jackson, Smith and DeKalb County high schools that represented the State of Tennessee at the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C., Disneyland Centennial in Orlando, Fla., various state and local parades, athletic events, dedications and community events. His teaching experience extended from all grade levels through senior college. In later years he helped with the organization and judging of the annual Smithville Jamboree each year.
Fowler served in the Navy during World War II as an aircraft turret gunner, and during one three-day stretch, his crew flew 55 missions while participating in the battles of Luzon, Leyte Gulf, Mindoro, Mindanaro and Manila Bay, until their badly shot up aircraft had to leave the battle zone managing to fly back to and make a crash landing on their home aircraft carrier. The original citation recommending the Air Medal was lost during the fierce battles and records were reconstructed later and Gunner Stanton was awarded the Air Medal in June of 2002, some 57 years after the fact. In addition to the Air Medal he was awarded the American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with three stars, Navy Occupational Medal, China Service Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, Philippine Presidential Unit Citation and the World War II Victory Medal.
In 1970 Mr. Stanton was united in marriage to Oleta Robbins from Byrdstown and they made their home in Smithvillle, where they were both members of First United Methodist Church of Smithville. His family includes his wife, Oleta Stanton of Smithville; a sister, Evelyn Harding of Lebanon; two daughters and sons-in-law, Melody and Dr. Tim Foster of Old Hickory and Sonata and Randy Rayburn of Nashville; a stepdaughter and son-in-law, Donna Jane and Pat Clements of Nashville; a stepson and daughter-in-law, Harold Edward and Vicki Copeland of Cookeville; two granddaughters, Lauren and Katie Foster; and three grandsons, Duke Rayburn and Ethan and Braden Copeland. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Tommy Stanton. Memorial donations may be made to the music department of the schools where he taught: Jackson County High School, Smith County High School or DeKalb County High School. Bro. Terry Little and Dr. John Purdue will officiate the services. Bass Funeral Homes, Carthage Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.
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