| | David "Bernie" Fowler 
WINTER HAVEN -- Mr. David "Bernie" Fowler spent 20 of his 30 years as a minister teaching and counseling inmates in prisons all over Florida.
Mr. Fowler died of heart failure Saturday (March 4, 2006). He was 80.
Born Aug. 20, 1925, in Rebecca, Ga., Mr. Fowler moved to Winter Haven from Georgia in the early 1940s. He worked for the Winter Haven Post Office before moving to Orlando to attended Temple Baptist Bible College in 1969.
In 1976, Mr. Fowler returned to Polk County to serve as associate pastor and school administrator for the Landmark Baptist Church and School in Haines City.
Before leaving Temple Baptist Bible College, Mr. Fowler began volunteering for the Key to Life Prison Ministry. Working with prison chaplains, he showed videos to, spoke with and counseled inmates.
After the ministry's founder passed away, Mr. Fowler became its director. He continued to work as a minister for Landmark Baptist while making prison trips on the weekends.
The trips weren't made alone. Mr. Fowler often brought his family, who performed songs for the prisoners.
"We certainly weren't polished or professional, but we had fun," his daughter, Cheryl Tomlinson, remembered. Singing praise songs in high-security prisons was intimidating, she said, but attendance was voluntary for inmates.
Prisoners often kept in touch with Mr. Fowler after his visits, completing Bible study courses through the mail.
"He had a lot of compassion for the down-and-outers," Tomlinson said.
Mr. Fowler served in the Army Air Corps and fought in World War II. He is survived by his wife, Mary Bacon Fowler; sons, Rick Fowler and Kerry Fowler, both of Orlando, Jeff Fowler, Lakeland; daughter, Cheryl Tomlinson, Ocoee, Cindy McClamma, Winter Garden; 11 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Oak Ridge Funeral Care, Haines City. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Landmark Baptist Church, Haines City.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ministries of Landmark Baptist Church, 2020 E. Hinson Ave., Haines City, FL 33844 or Good Shepherd Hospice, 115 S. Missouri Ave., Suite 500, Lakeland, FL 33815.
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