Arthur W. "Bill" Gowins II

          Arthur W. “Bill” Gowins II, 78, of Gnadenhutten died Saturday evening of May 21, 2022, at Community Hospice Truman House.

          Bill was born in Dennison on December 13, 1943, to the late Arthur W. I and Shirley (Miles) Gowins. He graduated in 1961 from Massillon High School where he was a member of the swim team. Then Bill enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served his country. After the Navy, Bill earned his associate degree from Kent State, Tuscarawas Campus. In 1973, he attained his Funeral Director’s License and after working a few years in the field at various locations, he purchased the funeral home in Gnadenhutten where he spent thirty years serving his community.

          The funeral profession wasn’t the only way Bill was part of the Gnadenhutten community. He was a member of the John Heckewelder Memorial Moravian Church, Port Washington Lodge #202 of the F&AM, where he went through all the chairs, a mounted deputy for the Tuscarawas Sherriff’s Department, and a police officer for Gnadenhutten, where he served as Chief of Police for seven years. Bill also coached pee-wee football in the early seventies, and various baseball teams, from little league up to the JV level.

          On September 6, 1962, Bill married the late Karen Poole, whom he met while in high school. They spent fifty-two years together before her death on July 16, 2015. They had two children who survive: Debbie (John) Wellman of Galloway, and Kelly Gowins of New Philadelphia. Also surviving are three grandchildren: Zachary and Ian Wellman, and Christian Gowins, a sister-in-law Karen Gowins, a brother-in-law Dean Miller, his healthcare provider Jaynie Campbell, a lifelong special friend Kathy Harper, and numerous nieces and nephews.

          Along with his parents and wife, Bill is preceded in death by a brother Lyle Gowins, and a sister Carol Miller.

          A funeral service will be held on Saturday May 28, 2022, at 1:00 P.M. at Koch Funeral Home of Gnadenhutten, 244 N. Walnut St., Gnadenhutten, Ohio 44629. Pastor Dave Geyer will officiate the service. Calling hours will be held two hours prior to the service from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. Memorial contributions may be made to Community Hospice Inc., 716 Commercial Ave. SW, New Philadelphia, OH 44663, or to Memorial Giving, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Online condolences may be made at www.kochfhgnaden.com.

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