Charles Fountain

OTTUMWA: Charles “Squeak” Alva Fountain, 68, of Ottumwa, Iowa was called to be with our Lord, Saturday, February 19, 2011. He was born April 10, 1942 to Thomas Edison Fountain and Marjorie La Vonne Covington in Davis County, Iowa. He married Mary Shaver Fountain in 1967 and later divorced. Charlie is survived by his children; Kandi (Jeff) Burris of Ames, Iowa, Laurie Fountain of Ottumwa, Mark (Karen) Olson, Gary Olson and Tina (Chad) Olson/Lott all of Burlington, Iowa; his mother Marjorie Covington Pottorff of Moulton, Iowa; his sister, Linda Fountain Wymer of Moulton; his brother, George of Ottumwa; 14 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Charlie was preceded in death by his father, Thomas Edison Fountain; his sister, Loraine Fountain Moffett; and brother Millard Edsel Fountain. Squeak’s love for bowling started in 1957/58 during his school days when he worked at Earl Grove Lanes setting pins with the hand pinsetters. He worked in Bloomfield for Bill Fisk from 1962-1964 then for Claude Parrish at Lucky Lanes in Kirksville through 1966. He returned to Bloomfield to Flame Lanes for Deo Piper and then for Bob German at Flame Lanes until 1978. At that time he started working at Champion Bowl for Elmer Bratten, Bob Bratten, and now Doug Techel. During the summer months he traveled with Jayhawk Resurfacing from 1979-1983 and then Great Lanes Resurfacing until 1993. There wasn’t a city in any state that Charlie didn’t know someone at the local gas station while passing through. The true loves of his life were his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Charlie’s daughter Laurie and his grandchildren Kaelee and Kolten Fountain lived with him. He enjoyed watching them play sports and letting Kolten chauffer him around. His daily calls to his grandchildren will be dearly missed. Charlie also enjoyed playing pool with his brother, George and many other friends. He enjoyed mushroom, deer, and turkey hunting as well. During Charlie’s bowling career, he had many accomplishments to be proud of. To name a few, he has bowled two 300 games, won the men’s State Bowling Tournament all-events in 1990 with a score of 2135 scratch, which sent him to the ABC Nationals. He finished fourth in doubles in the men’s State Bowling Tournament with Jim “Ace” Farrington in 1978 and fourth in all-events in Ft. Dodge in 1968. He was inducted into the Bloomfield Bowling Hall of Fame and the Ottumwa Bowling Hall of Fame. Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at Champion Bowl in Ottumwa, Iowa with Pastor Tom Pettinga officiating. Burial will be at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the Fountain Family Cemetery in Pulaski, Iowa. The family will be at the Wagler Funeral Home in Bloomfield for visitation from 6-8:00 p.m. on Tuesday. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established to the family (in care of Laurie Fountain) or the Ottumwa High School Bowling Team.