James Benjamin ‘J.B.’ Towler

Published 4:39 pm Thursday, February 13, 2025

September 27, 1931 – February 7, 2025

J.B. passed peacefully in his room at Heritage Hall in Dillwyn on Friday, Feb. 7. He was born in Darlington Heights in 1931 to Bessie and Oscar Towler, where he grew up on a farm. He spent most of his career as hospital administrator at Southside Community Hospital for greater than two decades. Upon leaving Southside, he went to Carillion in Roanoke, where he finished his career. After retirement, he returned to Farmville. J.B. served in the Army during the Korean War. He was shot twice, and returned to the front lines. He was a survivor of the “Suicide Hill” battle in Korea. He was preceded in death by Phyllis Norton Towler. He is survived by his daughter and son in law, Robyn and David Simpson of Prospect, daughter Debbie Sloan of Lexington, South Carolina, daughter Susan Towler of Jacksonville, Florida. Five grandchildren, Daniel Simpson of Prospect, Jacqueline Simpson of Prospect, Kristen Sloan of New Orleans, Jonathan Sloan of Ashville North Carolina, Katie Sloan of Conway South Carolina and one great grandson, Destyn Doeing of Conway South Carolina. He has one surviving sibling, Bette Wright of Northern Virginia, and his beloved beagle, Precious as well as many nieces and nephews. 

A visitation will be held on Friday, Feb. 14, at 10 a.m. in Puckett Funeral Home. A funeral service will follow at 10:30 a.m. in the funeral home. Interment to follow in Bethlehem Presbyterian Church Cemetery. Puckett Funeral Home is serving the family. www.puckettfh.com.