HOLTON - Oscar JB Nowlin, 92, of Holton, died Saturday, February 21, 2004, at the
Community Hospital in Onaga.

He was born April 2, 1911, on the family farm west of Maroa, Macon County, Illinois
on his grandfather, Jonathan Blaisdell Nowlin's 70th birthday, the son of Cortez Dewey
and Minnie Bell Jump Nowlin.

Oscar attended schools in Maroa, Illiinois and graduated from Decatur, Illinois High
School in 1930. The quote in his high school yearbook read, "An honest man --
close-buttoned to the chin, broadcloth without, and warm heart within." His Bachelor's
Degree was in Horticulture from the University of Illinois in 1934. He was on full
scholarship.

Oscar's love of and interest in horticulture began as early as 1924 when he raised and sold
bedding plants. He grew gladiolus on an acre of land while in high school. This brought
recognition by the media where an article was written on him in the Decatur Herald. This
article was his introducion to his future benefactor. He was awarded a full tuition at the
University of Illinois. This was unheard of generosity at the time since the stock market
had just crashed.

While at the university, he attended ROTC, accepted a commission as an officer and was
activated into the Army in November, 1940. He served with the 7th Inf. Division before
he was transferred to the 352nd Regiment in the 96th Inf. Division (Dead Eye). He rose
to the rank of Lt. Col. and served as the G-4. In the Pacific Theatre, he participated in
invasions at Leyte and Okinawa. After the surrender of Japan, he was discharged from
the Army in late 1945.

Oscar was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Holton. He was also a member of
the Mary L. Bair Unit No. 44 of the American Legion, the Holton Memorial Post No.
1367 of the V. F. W., Holton Masonic Lodge No. 42 AF & AM, Columbian Chapter No.
152 of the Order of Eastern Star, Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge No. 34, and
the Holton Rotary Club. He was a Director of Kansas Greenhouses, served as a Kansas
State Representative, 50th District for eight years, the Retired Officers Association, was a
Harris Fellow and served as a Holton Volunteer Fireman.


Following the war, he purchased the Holton Greenhouse in Holton, in January, 1946, a
business he ran for 50 1/2 years. When he retired in 1996 from the greenhouse, he was
only the third owner in over a century of operation.

His hobbies included reading, traveling and having coffee with his buddies at the Trail's
Cafe. He helped to plan family reunions in various scenic places so the cousins could get
acquainted since they were scattered all over the United States.

He married Dorothy Longsdorff, June 28, 1935, on the lawn of Dorothy's sisters farm.
Old films show that the occasion was fun with them parading by while being
photographed. The happy couple immediately left for California, where Oscar worked in
large greenhouses.

Survivors include his wife, Dorothy O. Nowlin, of the home, three sons, John B. Nowlin
and his wife, Lea of Bellflower, California, Stewart E. Nowlin and his wife, Nancy of
Lawrence, David D. Nowlin and his wife, Sharon, Phoenix, one daughter, Dr. Mary C.
Nowlin, Phoenix, six grandchildren, Steven Walvig and his wife, Tasha of Minneapolis,
Minnesota, Melinda Smith and her husband, Andrew of Overland Park, Jonathan Nowlin
and his wife, Jennifer, of Plymouth, Minnesota, Patrick Nowlin, Kosa Town,
Kumamoto-Ken, Japan, Kamilah Sarah Smith, Phoenix, and Eric Nowlin, New York,
New York.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, February 25th at the Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in
Holton. Burial will be 4:00 p.m. Thursday in the Maroa Cemetery, Maroa, Illinois. Oscar will lie in state
until service time at the funeral home where family and friends will meet from 7:00 to
8:00 p.m. on Tuesday.