- Date Of Birth: December 27, 1938
- Date Of Death: December 8, 2022
- State: Idaho
Richard Dean (R2D2) Fowler, 83, of Idaho Falls, rode off into the Idaho sunrise on December 8, 2022.
The eldest of four children, he was born on December 27, 1938, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to George and Margaret Fowler. On October 25, 1958, Richard married the love of his life, Jeanette Simmons, after she proved to be an excellent passenger on his motorcycle.
A common man he was not. A cowboy of all trades, he was talented in many a discipline. He retired from the Idaho National Laboratory after 42 years, and subsequently interrupted retirement to work for his daughter’s family business. Richard cherished the outdoors, whether it was tending to his large yard, cutting firewood to precise standards in Island Park, chasing fish in nearby lakes and streams, backpacking deep into the mountains of Montana, exploring old ghost towns, digging for crystals in the Pioneer Mountains, skiing fresh snow in Harriman, and the list goes on. Once he began buying new Ford trucks, there was no end to the habit. A new truck appeared in the driveway every year or two. Always eager to be doing something, his last truck saw Market Lake, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, or Palisades, and sometimes all four, on a near daily basis.
A talented photographer, the walls of his home were adorned with photos of the wildlife he had encountered during his travels. On the occasions when he was indoors, Richard was often holed up in the man cave he built for an office.
He is survived by a passel of family who will miss him dearly, including three children: Sabrina (Rocky) Young, Susan (Kevin) Schwabedissen, and Marvin (Jessie) Fowler; 7 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-granddaughter; and three siblings: Barbara Smith, Georgann Kocsis, and George Ellis Fowler. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, adored parents, cherished cats (Squeaker and Midnight), and a whole lot of sweat equity.
The family would like to thank Tambree Meadows and Hospice of Eastern Idaho who provided exceptional care for Richard during his final days.
