WORCESTER -- Robert Fowler Jr., 86, of 340 May St., formerly of Squantum Road, Paxton, a retired electrical engineer, died Sunday, March 11, in UMass Memorial Medical Center -- Memorial Campus. His wife of 45 years, Grace E. (Kahrman) Fowler, died in 1984. He leaves a son, Robert E. Fowler of Uxbridge; a daughter, Joanne Backus of Spencer; three grandchildren. Two brothers, Kenneth M. and Donald H. Fowler, both of Rutland, and a sister, Virginia M. Fowler, predeceased him. He was born in Winthrop, son of Robert and Gretchen (McIntyre) Fowler, and lived in Paxton, Spencer, and Worcester. He received a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from WPI, and attended MIT. Mr. Fowler was an electrical engineer 40 years for New England Electric Co., retiring in 1977. He was a member of First Congregational Church of Paxton, and was a former trustee and deacon of the church. He sang many years in the church choir, and was a former member of First Congregational Church of Worcester, where he was also a trustee and deacon. He was an Eagle Scout, and served on the Paxton Conservation Committee. He was a member of the Tech Old-Timers Club and the Tatnuck Club, and received the Distinguished Service Award from the Tech Old-Timers in 1984. He received the Herbert F. Taylor Award in 1984 from the board of trustees and alumni of WPI. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 17, in First Congregational Church of Paxton, 1 Church St., Paxton. Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery, Rumford, R.I. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to WPI, 100 Institute Road, Worcester, MA 01609 or First Congregational Church of Paxton, 1 Church St., Paxton, MA 01612. Caswell-King Funeral Home, 1147 Main St., Holden, is directing arrangements.