Diana Lynn Fowler, 61, Dies in Columbus on Oct 27, 2026

Diana Lynn Fowler, 61, of Columbus, Ohio, died Tuesday, October 27, 2026, in her beloved home — the same city her family moved to when she was just three months old.

From Muncie to West High School

Born Diana Lynn McLarkey on June 28, 1965, in Muncie, Indiana, to Nelson C. and Barbara A. McLarkey, she arrived in Columbus with her family at three months old and grew up in the city. She graduated from West High School. On December 14, 2002, she married Kevin Fowler of Columbus, building a life centered on family and community.

Two Decades with Metro Parks, Five Years in the Garden Center

For twenty years, Fowler gave her time to Metro Parks, and she also volunteered at Camp Wyandot. She was a member of the Eastern Stars 502 of Grove City. During her final five years, she worked at a Home Depot on West Broad Street, where customers sought her out for gardening advice and she delighted in sharing her knowledge with others.

Diana Lynn Fowler, 61, Dies in Columbus on Oct 27, 2026 — Photo: legacy.com

Buckeyes, Books, and Weekend Trails Across Ohio

Those who knew her remember a woman who loved hosting and attending family gatherings. She never missed a chance to watch The Ohio State Buckeyes play. In her free hours she read or explored the great outdoors on weekend adventures across Ohio.

Survived by Husband, Children, and Grandchildren Ages 7 and 3

Fowler is preceded in death by her parents, Nelson C. and Barbara A. McLarkey. She is survived by her loving husband, Kevin Fowler; her daughter Laura Varney; her step-daughters Rhonda Fowler and Kaitlin Fowler; her grandchildren Niklaus Elijah Anthony Metzger, age 7, and Adeline Marie Goodwin, age 3; her sister Pamela Johnston; her brother Roy McLarkey; and numerous extended family and friends, all of whom will feel her absence.

Visitation Friday at the Grove City Masonic Lodge

Family and friends may call on Friday, November 6, 2026, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Grove City Masonic Lodge, 3558 Park St., Grove City, Ohio 43123. The funeral service will start at 6:00 p.m. at the lodge. For those wishing to send flowers, arrangements should be sent to 417 S. Powell, Columbus, Ohio 43204, by November 5, 2026.

At 61, Fowler leaves behind two young grandchildren, ages 7 and 3, who will carry her memory forward, and a community that benefited from twenty years of her volunteer service.

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