14 Courier Standard Enterprise, Fort Plain, NY., Oct. 30, 1984 - Mabel Fowler of St. Johnsville; well-known community supporter Mrs. Mabel C. Fowler, 92, former president of Palatine Dyeing Company and widely known for her efforts to increase the well-being of others, died Thursday evening at her home at the corner of William Street and Failing Avenue. Mrs. Fowler had been in failing health for some time and had been a patient at Little Falls Hospital until returning home about one week ago. She was born in Amsterdam on March 29, 1892, the daughter of Nicholas and Hepzibah Sutton Suits and was educated in Amsterdam schools. She married Lewis M Fowler in July 1923. Following the death of her husband on Feb. 7, 1951, she took over operation of the Palatine Dyeing Company and was its president for eight years until the business was sold to the Celanese Corporation of America. Her local and area civic affiliations were numerous and she was generous in support of the groups to which she belonged. Many of her gifts were memorials to her husband, such as large financial contributions which enabled Camp Fowler, a camp in the Adirondacks named as a memorial to her husband, to be opened for Reformed Church youths. She was also a trustee of the camp each year she offered a $1,000 scholarship to a deserving graduate of St. Johnsville Central School. She also made large donations for the construction of the grandstand at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Park in St. Johnsville; a stained glass window. sanctuary lights and addition of the chapel to St. Johns Reformed Church of which she was a member; helped with finances in the restoration of the historic Palatine Church to its original interior and annual gifts were made to the Senior Citizen Saints and many other local organizations. She provided uniforms for the St. Johnsville Saints baseball team, a portable pump for the fire department and a radio for the police department. In addition to her church affiliation, she was a trustee of the New York State Council of Churches, member of the board of directors at Arkell Hall in Canajoharie, member of the State and National Granges and the former St. Johnsville Grange, the Century Club in Amsterdam and a member and trustee of the Montgomery County Historical Society. She was the recipient of the VFW civic service award when the StarrColorito Post was active and was a member of the Palatine Society. For many years Mrs. Fowler provided huge Christmas displays in front of the Reformed Church and also at her home, with the displays attracting thousands of spectators not only from this area but busloads of people from other parts of the state. Her formal garden extended from the front of her home along Failing Avenue almost to Main Street in St. Johnsville and was a favorite spot for outdoor weddings and picture-taking. Surviving are three cousins, Florence Moyer of Fort Plain, Robert Sitterley of St. Johnsville and Grace Huxley of DeLeone Springs, Fla.; and a nephew, William Max Fowler of Shillington. Pa. Services were held Monday at 1 p.m. from the Lull Funeral Home, 24 Kingsbury Ave., St. Johnsville, with the Rev. Raymond Vander Giessen officiating. Burial was in Green Hill Cemetery. Amsterdam. Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Johnsville Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps, St. Johns Reformed Church or to Camp Fowler.
14 Courier Standard Enterprise, Fort Plain, NY., Oct. 30, 1984 - Mabel Fowler of St. Johnsville; well-known community supporter Mrs. Mabel C. Fowler, 92, former president of Palatine Dyeing Company and widely known for her efforts to increase the well-being of others, died Thursday evening at her home at the corner of William Street and Failing Avenue. Mrs. Fowler had been in failing health for some time and had been a patient at Little Falls Hospital until returning home about one week ago. She was born in Amsterdam on March 29, 1892, the daughter of Nicholas and Hepzibah Sutton Suits and was educated in Amsterdam schools. She married Lewis M Fowler in July 1923. Following the death of her husband on Feb. 7, 1951, she took over operation of the Palatine Dyeing Company and was its president for eight years until the business was sold to the Celanese Corporation of America. Her local and area civic affiliations were numerous and she was generous in support of the groups to which she belonged. Many of her gifts were memorials to her husband, such as large financial contributions which enabled Camp Fowler, a camp in the Adirondacks named as a memorial to her husband, to be opened for Reformed Church youths. She was also a trustee of the camp each year she offered a $1,000 scholarship to a deserving graduate of St. Johnsville Central School. She also made large donations for the construction of the grandstand at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Park in St. Johnsville; a stained glass window. sanctuary lights and addition of the chapel to St. Johns Reformed Church of which she was a member; helped with finances in the restoration of the historic Palatine Church to its original interior and annual gifts were made to the Senior Citizen Saints and many other local organizations. She provided uniforms for the St. Johnsville Saints baseball team, a portable pump for the fire department and a radio for the police department. In addition to her church affiliation, she was a trustee of the New York State Council of Churches, member of the board of directors at Arkell Hall in Canajoharie, member of the State and National Granges and the former St. Johnsville Grange, the Century Club in Amsterdam and a member and trustee of the Montgomery County Historical Society. She was the recipient of the VFW civic service award when the StarrColorito Post was active and was a member of the Palatine Society. For many years Mrs. Fowler provided huge Christmas displays in front of the Reformed Church and also at her home, with the displays attracting thousands of spectators not only from this area but busloads of people from other parts of the state. Her formal garden extended from the front of her home along Failing Avenue almost to Main Street in St. Johnsville and was a favorite spot for outdoor weddings and picture-taking. Surviving are three cousins, Florence Moyer of Fort Plain, Robert Sitterley of St. Johnsville and Grace Huxley of DeLeone Springs, Fla.; and a nephew, William Max Fowler of Shillington. Pa. Services were held Monday at 1 p.m. from the Lull Funeral Home, 24 Kingsbury Ave., St. Johnsville, with the Rev. Raymond Vander Giessen officiating. Burial was in Green Hill Cemetery. Amsterdam. Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Johnsville Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps, St. Johns Reformed Church or to Camp Fowler.
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