OBITUARY: Nina Kate Fowler of Kingsland dies March 14, 2013
Nina Kate Fowler, a longtime resident of Kingsland, Texas, went home to be with the Lord on March 14, 2013. She was born in Colorado City, Texas, on Feb. 12, 1930, to John William and Clara May Bishop Giles.
After her mom’s death, Nina went to live with her older sister, Louise, and her husband J.B. Thompson in Kermit. There, she attended high school, playing volleyball and later working as a dispatcher for the sheriff’s office.
She is survived by her two daughters, Robin Kaspar and husband Gerald of Kingsland and Gina Chittim and husband Tim of Buchanan Dam; nine grandchildren; sister Barbara Bailey and husband Warren of Clyde; brother Charlie Thompson and wife Carolyn of Big Spring; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Charles Fowler; and eight brothers and sisters.
Nina was an extraordinary person who loved the Lord and loved people. She was kind and loving to all people she met despite race, gender or social status. She greeted everyone with a big smile and her bright blue eyes. Her nicknames were “Sugar” or “Precious” because those were the titles she often gave to complete strangers upon first meeting them.
Nina first moved to Kingsland in 1962 with her husband of 23 years, Gede Sindorf. Together, they owned River Oaks Fishing Lodge. It was important her girls be raised in the Christian faith, and she was active in Kingsland Community Church, singing in the choir and teaching Sunday school.
Nina later worked at Highland Lakes National Bank and then Kingsland Insurance. Despite working outside the home, she always found time to help with her daughters’ school parties and attend sporting events. She and Gede divorced, and Nina remarried Charles Fowler in 1979. They were retired and happily married almost 10 years before Charles passed away. She never remarried.
Nina loved deeply. She loved her family, friends and pets, and gardening was her therapy. In her later years, Nina became more private. She did not go out much except to eat at Tamale King and maybe get ice cream, but she was an avid reader. Her mind was as sharp as ever.
Nina was never wealthy in the monetary sense but rich in spirit, sharing the majority of what she had to live on with others in need. She is remembered fondly as a strong, independent (hard-headed) woman with a gentle spirit and a loving, positive attitude. She never stopped being a servant to those around her, caring for others even in her last days, and teaching her final lessons on how to be grateful and humble even in death.
In the hospital, as the nurses relentlessly poked and prodded her, she was always thankful and kind, speaking to each caregiver by name. Her strength was such that her family adopted the phrase W.W.N.D. (What Would Nina Do?) to help them in this trying time. It is obvious from the way she lived that Nina understood the teachings of Jesus and lived them out to the very end.
“But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.” Matthew 23:11.
Nina was and still is one of the greatest among us, now serving in Heaven.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hill Country Youth Ranch, 3171 Junction Highway, Ingram, TX 78025; or to K.F.C. “Kids for Christ” at Packsaddle Fellowship Church, 508 RR 2900 Kingsland, TX 78639.
A celebration of life service for Nina is 11 a.m. March 25 at Kingsland Community Church on RR 1431 in Kingsland.
Arrangements by Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home, 306 Texas 29 East in Burnet, (512) 756-2222. Condolences may be made at www.clementswilcoxburnet.com.