A 78-year-old Navy veteran from Tabor City, North Carolina, died on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Lower Cape Fear Hospice & Life Care Center in Whiteville. Billy Ray Fowler Sr. passed away peacefully after a life of service and family devotion. No cause of death has been publicly released.
Fowler proudly served his country as a member of the United States Navy. That sense of duty and discipline carried through into every part of his life. In Tabor City, he was known as a steady and dependable presence, someone who valued hard work and responsibility. He was a devoted husband to his wife of many years, Margaret Davis Fowler. Together they built a life grounded in commitment and shared values.
Fowler cherished his role as a caring father and took great joy in his family, always working to provide and support them through the years. He is survived by his wife Margaret; his son, Billy Ray Fowler Jr. and his wife Kristy of Tabor City; and his sister, Janice Smith. His extended family and friends also mourn his loss.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 23, 2026, at Dulah Baptist Church in Tabor City. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will follow at Dulah Cemetery. The family has invited all whose lives he touched to attend and honor his memory.
The family has requested privacy as they mourn. Fowler was 78 years old. He served in the Navy, was married to Margaret, and raised his son Billy Jr. in Tabor City. Those are the details his loved ones are sharing as they grieve. His presence brought comfort and stability to those closest to him.
Anyone wishing to honor Fowler’s memory may attend the visitation or funeral service at Dulah Baptist Church. His legacy of patriotic service, family devotion, and steadfast character will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew him. No additional information has been released.
