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Walter Dowdle

[JUNE 20, 2006]  Walter Dowdle, 80, of Freeport, formerly of Lincoln, died Monday, June 19, 2006, at his home.

Visitation in Freeport will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Burke-Tubbs Funeral Home. A funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Freeport, with Monsignor P. William McDonnell officiating.

In Lincoln, there will be a visitation at Peasley Funeral Home from 8:30 until 9:30 a.m. on Friday, followed by a funeral Mass at 10 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church, with the Rev. R. Anthony Lee officiating.

Burial will be at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Lincoln.

Mr. Dowdle was a mechanical engineer who worked for several corporations, including General Electric, where he was awarded several U.S. patents; Micro Switch; and United Technologies, where he was director of product engineering. He retired in 1991 and returned to Freeport in 1992.

He served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946.

He was born Jan. 30, 1926, in Lincoln to George J. and Fern Phalen Dowdle. He married Norma M. Krotz on Aug. 28, 1947, in Lincoln.

He is survived by his wife; three sons; Michael Dowdle of Detroit, Mich., Timothy (and Janine) Dowdle of Phoenix, Md., and George (and Pam) Dowdle of Fuquay-Varina, N.C.; four daughters, Cynthia McWilliams of Freeport, Colleen (and Mark) Gallagher of Freeport, Cathie (and Bob) Hoover of Spring Lake, Mich., and Carol (and David) Keith; 14 grandchildren, Caroline (and Chris) Bellizzi, Ryan McWilliams, Megan Dowdle, Maureen Dowdle, Leigh Dowdle, Valerie Dowdle, Kevin Dowdle, Patrick Gallagher, Michael Gallagher, Rob Hoover, Sarah Hoover, Anna Hoover, Casey Dowdle and Erin Dowdle; and one great-granddaughter, Amelia Bellizzi.

One sister, Catherine Dowdle Amussen, preceded him in death.

He was a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Freeport, where he was co-chairman of fundraising activity for the addition and remodeling in 1995. He was an Aquin school board member in the 1960s and served on the board of directors of St. Joseph-St. Vincent. He was also a member of the Engineering Society of Detroit, AMVETS, Elks, Knights of Columbus and American Legion.

His working life spanned from the age of the blacksmith to the digital age. He enjoyed creating ornamental iron pieces with his father, a blacksmith. He built his own home in Lincoln.

He was a member of a barbershop quartet when he was younger and enjoyed singing throughout his life. He and his wife traveled extensively.

He graduated from Lincoln College in 1948 and received a bachelor of science in engineering from Bradley University in 1950. He was an avid Bradley basketball fan and participated in many alumni events.

His priorities were God, family, music and engineering.

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