SUFFOLK - Johnny Stowe, 65, of Suffolk, Va., departed this earthly life on Nov. 21, 2012, after battling cancer for almost a year.
A devoted servant of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Johnny wanted all to know that by God's grace through faith, he has graduated to glory and is now rejoicing in seeing his Lord face to face.
A celebration of his life will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012, at Bethel Baptist Church, 1004 Yorktown Road, Yorktown, VA 23693.
Johnny will be sadly missed by many he deeply loved, his wife and love of his life, Robbie Shields Stowe (in his recent words, "the most beautiful woman alive; she has a great heart!"); his beloved daughter, Shayna Ashlie Paul and husband, Michael; his precious grandchildren, Audrey Nichelle White-Paul, Michael "Anthony" Paul, and Ashlielynn Paul; his sister, Gaye Stowe Arnett; his sister-in-law, Diana Adams Stowe; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and extraordinary friends.
Johnny was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Harrison Stowe Sr. and Cora Lee Stowe; his brother, Thomas "Tommy" Harrison Stowe Jr.; and his brother-in-law, Clovis E. Vess.
Johnny's devotion to his wife, daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren were evident to all who knew him. He delighted in time spent with them and loved taking his grandchildren on outdoor adventures and activities, as well as to AWANA Club at Bethel Baptist Church.
Johnny was employed as a design engineer at Newport News Shipbuilding for over 30 years. He was always thankful for his many valued co-workers, friends, and fellow-believers there.
Johnny was an avid outdoorsman, and an accomplished fisherman and hunter. But, since he received the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior, in 1976, his foremost passion was to know God and make Him known. He tirelessly exercised his God-given talents in music, teaching and encouragement. Anyone who met Johnny quickly knew he was a believer in Jesus and he never tired of giving his testimony about how the Lord turned his life around at age 29. His desire was for everyone to come to a saving knowledge of God through receiving Christ as Lord, and he often shared Jesus' words in John 14:6: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Johnny was an active member of Bethel Baptist Church in Yorktown, Va., since 1982. He was a men's Sunday school teacher, an actor and singer in the Easter praise events, and a longtime AWANA leader of his much-loved Cubbies. He ministered for years through the "Hallelujah Side" gospel group, and the "Circle of Two" prayer ministry for married couples. Johnny also cherished the Bible, God's word - studying, memorizing and quoting it often.
Flower tributes are welcome or memorials, in his memory, may be sent to Bethel Baptist Church, 1004 Yorktown Road, Yorktown, VA 23693.
Arrangements by W. J. Smith & Son Funeral Home, Inc. Send condolences to www.wjsmithandson.com View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.