Mrs. Virginia Beatrice Houston Dowdy of Middleton departed this life Wednesday morning, October 31, 2012 at McNairy Regional Hospital in Selmer. She was 89 years old.
Mrs. Dowdy was born in Macon, Tennessee November 4, 1922 to the late Robert Lee “Papa” and Virginia Sain Houston. She moved with her family to Hardeman County in her early teen years and was united in marriage January 26, 1939 at the age of 16 to Willie Dee Dowdy, who preceded her in death October 30, 1990. She worked as a seamstress, retiring from Walden Manufacturing Company after 28 years of service. She also worked at Western Mental Health Institute in Bolivar.
Among her hobbies, she loved to play cards, quilt and make children’s clothing. She was a member of the Middleton Church of Christ and also belonged to Farm Bureau, Woodmen of the World and the Old-Fashioned Home Demonstration Club.
She leaves as her survivors three daughters, Virgia Webster and husband W. T. of Middleton, Jeannette Dowdy Carter of Memphis and Betty Dowdy Powell and husband Richard of Jackson; seven grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
In addition to her husband and parents, she is preceded in death by a daughter, Sandra Powell, who passed away June 1, 1991; three brothers, Robert Lee, Wesley and Dewey Houston; and one sister, Gladys Houston Farris.
