Betty Fowlkes

Betty Sue Fowlkes, 84 of Abilene, passed away Wednesday, January 2, 2019. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm Saturday, January 5, 2019, in the Chapel at Piersall Funeral Directors, 733 Butternut St. A visitation will be held Friday evening from 5:00-6:30 pm at the funeral home.

Betty was born August 17, 1934 in Abilene, Texas to Preston Benjamin Alford and Susie Jane Medlin Alford. She was raised in Abilene and graduated from Abilene High School in 1952. She married the love of her life, Bob Henry Fowlkes, in San Diego, California on August 17, 1951 while he was stationed there in the Navy.

Bob and Betty made their home in Abilene. They raised their two sons, Bryan and Barry, in Abilene and enjoyed watching them raise their families in Abilene as well. Vacation time was spent traveling the country with cousins, Stanley and Nan Alford, and with family and friends at Lake Brownwood. Bob and Betty also enjoyed playing volleyball and dominoes with groups of their close friends. For many years Betty worked as a lab technician for the Taylor County Health Department. Betty was a long-time member of Southern Hills Church of Christ.

Following Bob’s death in 1996, Betty enjoyed spending time with her close companion, Tommy Willson, who had served with Bob on the USS Henry W. Tucker DDR 875 during the Korean War. Tommy moved to Abilene from Wichita Falls to be closer to Betty, living next door, and became a second grandfather to Betty’s young grandchildren.

Betty is survived by her sons: Bryan Fowlkes and wife, Lisa, and Barry Fowlkes and wife, Cathy. Betty is also survived by her grandchildren: Robert Fowlkes and wife, Keva, and their children, Asher and Addison; Brianna Dozier and husband, Blake, and their children, Braxton, Brooklyn and Blaire; Bryson Fowlkes; and Parker, Zoe and Adrian Fowlkes. Betty is also survived by her dear friend of many years, Tommy Willson. Preceding Betty in death were her parents, her husband, Bob, and three brothers: William, Orville and Roy Alford.

The family requests that donations be made in honor of Betty to the West Texas Rehab Center at www.westtexasrehab.org. Condolences may be offered to the family online at www.pbfuneraldirectors.com.