Donald Ray Dowdy was born on December 29, 1946, to the late Erma and Leonard Dowdy in Winfield, Kansas. Don graduated from Blackwell High School in 1965. He proudly served in Vietnam in the United States Army from 1967 to 1968 as a POL specialist. He was later stationed in Frankfurt, Germany, where he met his future wife, Debbie, at church. After leaving the Army, he returned to the United States and married Debbie on December 20, 1969, in Dayton, Kentucky.
After their marriage, Don and Debbie both attended and graduated from the University of Cincinnati with degrees in education. Don earned degrees in Adult and Technical Education, secondary education, chemistry, and math. They taught at various public and private Christian schools in Maryland and Oklahoma. Eventually, they settled in Lawton, where they welcomed a son, David, in 1990, and a daughter, Dana, in 1991. When Don entered heaven, he was greeted by several of their children who were born sleeping.
In 1996, the family settled in Huntsville, Alabama. After leaving teaching, Don worked for almost 27 years for Tech-Masters Inc. as an engineer. During that time, he received several awards for his outstanding work ethic. Don was passionate about church and missionary work. He served as an elder and a Sunday School teacher in the last several churches where he was a member. His other interests included the Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of America, camping, and other outdoor activities. He had an unusual love of maintaining his yard and pasture and loved spending time on his tractor or just sitting outside, listening to nature while watching clouds, weather, and wildlife.
Don was very well-traveled and experienced in working with people from other cultures, which served him well at work. During his life, he visited over 40 countries and an equal number of states. Family vacations varied from two-week camping trips to Colorado, visiting NYC, Disney World, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Egypt. Those who knew Don considered him gregarious, kind, generous, thoughtful, outgoing, patient, forgiving, and highly intelligent. Maintaining personal connections with people, past and present, was very important to him. He will be greatly missed as he was the best husband, father, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend to everybody.
Don is survived by his wife, Debbie, his son, David, his daughter, Dana (Bradley Farmer), his brother, Clifford Dowdy (Debbie), and several nephews and nieces.
Celebration of Life: 3:00 pm Sunday August 4,2024
At Huntsville Christian church
With continued fellowship and celebration with shared stories about Don and light refreshments after.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers please make donations to the Boy Scouts of America in Don’s memory
Berryhill Funeral Home is assisting the family.
