SEQUIM — Robert Fowler was busy Friday telling his friends he isn’t dead.
A report in the Peninsula Daily News on Page C1 Friday quoted Bob Pensworth of Joyce as saying that Fowler, who had driven his restored Edsel in the Joyce Daze parade in the past, would be missed this year because he had been shot and killed in Port Angeles in June.
He wasn’t.
The Robert Fowler who was killed in June was 63 years old, moved to Port Angeles from Salem, Ore., about a year and a half ago and lived at 209 E. Vashon Ave. in Port Angeles.
Joyce Daze
The Robert Fowler who has in past years driven his Edsel in the Joyce Daze Grand Parade is 73 years old, comes from a North Olympic Peninsula pioneer family, founded the Peninsula Dream Machines car club and lives in a mobile home park on the west side of Sequim.
How did Robert Fowler of Sequim feel about reading about his own death?
“That’s not so bad,” he said Friday.
“When you get to be this age, when you look at the obituaries first — well, mine was on a different page,” he said philosophically.
“I tell everybody I ain’t dead.”
Fowler said he had fielded eight to 10 phone calls from concerned friends.
Fowler made it to the Joyce Daze parade Saturday in his trademark Edsel, riding with his dog, Willie.
His other Edsel isn’t ready for the road yet, Fowler said.
“I have a new engine in it now,” he said, but he has to add an exhaust system. He’s also planning some “fancy bucket seats.”
Glad he’s alive
Pensworth’s confusion upset him — but he was glad to learn that Fowler was indeed alive.
“My wife and I knew Bob Fowler, and we were shocked when we heard of the death,” Pensworth said.
“I’m so happy to find out that he’s still among us and that he’s still going to be driving his antique cars.
“To see those cars beautifully restored reminds me of our history.
“I really admire what he’s doing in keeping history alive.”
Founded car club
His love of Edsels is the reason Fowler founded the Peninsula Dream Machines 20 years ago.
“I had an Edsel when I started the club,” he said.
“I was trying to find a club to belong to, and I couldn’t find any.
“I met a guy who had a red Chrysler.”
The two talked about vintage cars, including Fowler’s white Edsel, and Fowler asked his new acquaintance if he knew of any car clubs in the area.
“He said, ‘No. Why don’t you start one?’”
So Fowler founded the club in September 1991, he said.
The club has eight charter members, and its membership has grown to more than 100, Fowler said.
He prepares the club’s monthly newsletter and said the latest edition went to 149 people.
Each year, the club conducts a fundraising event for a worthy cause.
This year, that cause is money for the Shane Park playground.
The Shane Park Playground Committee is working with the city of Port Angeles to come up with the $130,000 needed to install a state-of-the-art play area at the west Port Angeles park.
Fowler wanted the club to help out for a personal reason.
Shane Fowler, for whom the park is named, is his son.
Shane died at age 9 in 1973 in a construction mishap when the park was being built.
Janet Young, Shane’s mother — who is now president of the fundraising committee — is Fowler’s ex-wife.
“My ex-wife wanted equipment” for the park across the street from her home at 1331 W. Sixth St., Fowler said.
“So I called her and said we wanted to do a fundraiser.”
The fundraiser will be Sept. 25 at the park.
Family came in 1888
Fowler has lived in the area most his life.
“My family came here in 1888, so I’ve been here awhile,” he said, leaving only to attend high school in Oregon and to try life briefly in Los Angeles.
He worked in construction much of his life and operated a secondhand store known as Bob and Willie’s — named for him and his dog — that he closed about five years ago.
He and the late Robert Fowler of Port Angeles are not the only men with that name in the area.
Fowler also has a 51-year-old son named Robert Fowler.
“There’s another Bob Fowler here, and that’s my son,” he said.
His son lives not far from the home of the Bob Fowler who died in June.
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Managing Editor/News Leah Leach can be reached at 360-417-3531 or leah.leach@peninsuladailynews.com.
