OBITUARY

Johnny Hubert Towler Jr. passed away on Wednesday February 26 in his home in Griffin Georgia. He would have been 90 years of age on June 14, 2025. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Marlene (Polly) Keith and 2 sons, Kenneth Lee Towler of Griffin, GA and John Christopher Towler of Tallahassee Fl. A third son, Keith Michael Towler deceased on February 5, 2020 is buried in the Towler Family Cemetery in Monroe.

Johnny is a native of Monroe, Georgia, born in and growing up in Pleasant Valley, son of Irene Higginbothan Towler and John Hubert Towler. His sister Ann Towler Brown resides in Rutledge, GA.

Johnny graduated from Monroe High School in 1954 where he was a member of 4-H, FFA and on the football team in 1952. At sixteen he joined the Georgia National Guard, moved to Atlanta and secured a job at Lockheed Marietta where he trained as a hydraulic mechanic. Johnny left Lockheed to accept an opportunity at Atlanta Army Depot (now Ft Gilem) as an aircraft mechanic. During the following years he continued with the Georgia National Guard, experiencing various training exercises. His first introduction to Army aviation was during his years at the Depot where he decided to apply for a commission in the Army, attending Officer Candidate School at Ft. Benning GA and earning the rank of 2d Lt. An opportunity for continued training opened to him when more fixed wing aircraft was utilized in the Army, and he applied for and completed Flight School at Ft Rucker AL in 1963. He later trained in OV-1 Mohawks, the Army's turbo-prop jets carrying sophisticated infra-red and SLAR equipment. He was stationed in Vung Tau Viet Nam in 1964-65 accomplishing 125 missions during his tour. He completed 1000 hours in Mohawks as of March 1983. After his promotion to Captain he became a Mohawk instructor and instrument examiner until his retirement from the Guard in 1974.

His military awards include: Senior Aviator Wings, Air Medal with 9 Oak Leaf Clusters, Viet Nam Service Medal, Viet Nam Campaign Medal, Republic of Viet Nam Galantry with Palm, Army Commendation, Armed Forces Expeditionary Service, National Defense Service and Georgia National Guard Defense on Foreign Soil. Additionally, Georgia National Guard Honest & Faithful Award, Armed Forces Reserve and Georgia Distinguished Service on Foreign Soil.

Following military retirement, he accepted a position with Marsh & McLennan Companies as a Construction Safety Engineer as Senior Vice President of the Construction Safety Services Group. His career with Marsh led him to his second retirement after 22 years.

Johnny and his wife Polly built a home in Conyers Georgia where they lived 30 years, until a decision was made for a smaller home in Sun City Peachtree, Griffin, Georgia where they reside at this time.

There will be a visitation on Tuesday March 4th at Meadows Funeral Home in Monroe from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM.  Funeral services will be held on Tuesday March 4th at 2:00 PM at the Chapel of Meadows Funeral Home .  Interment will follow at Towler Family Cemetery.  Meadows Funeral Home, Inc. is in charge of arrangements.