Theodore "Ted" Gowder

View Video TributeView Funeral WebcastMr. Theodore Floyd "Ted" Gowder, 59, co-owner of Four Star Paving Company and resident of Imperial Drive, died Monday, June 28, 2010 at Centennial Medical Center. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Rev. Chip Hunter officiating. Burial will follow in Spring Hill Memorial Park. The family will visit with friends Wednesday from 4 - 8 p.m. at the funeral home. The family requests memorials to Doctors Without Borders USA, P.O. Box 5030, Hagerstown, Maryland, 21741 or a charity of your choice. Notes of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.oakesandnichols.com. Born near Auburn, Alabama he was the son of the late Dennis Floyd Gowder and Lillie Beulah Whatley Gowder. He was a graduate of Lewis County High School and attended Columbia State Community College. Mr. Gowder was an avid slot car enthusiast and past member of RC Model Flyers Club. He was an Auburn football fan, loved people and his pet boxers. He was a member of the Methodist Church in Hohenwald. Survivors include his wife of nearly 30 years, Esther Taylor Gowder of Columbia; son, Dennis Austin Gowder of Franklin; brother, Dr. Tim (Linda) Gowder of Oak Ridge; brother-in-law, Lester (Kathy) Taylor of Phil Campbell, AL; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Willard and Gladys Taylor of Phil Campbell, AL; nieces and nephews, Robert Gowder, Sara Pilgreen, Bradley Taylor, Holley Pate, Shena Lamannion, Renea Rathburn; special cousin, Lerae "Sissy" Whatley; and several great nieces and great nephews. Friends and co-workers will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Randy Matlock, Ronnie Hinson, John Jackson, Mac Gowder, Jim Gowder, Lee Tolley, Van Schwenderman, Tim Schwenderman, Ray Mize, Rick Lester, Brad Taylor, Jimmy Blocker, Jack Hafer, Dr. Ben Gardner, Dr. William Polk and co-owners and employees of Four Star Paving Company.