Richard Thomas McDowell

Richard Thomas McDowell, 97, of Clayton, went home to be with his Lord on August 23, 2017. He was born February 14, 1920, in Mill Creek, NC, to the late Charlie Barden and Lillian McDowell. Richard was a quiet man but full of love for family and friends, with a smile and helping hand. Mr. McDowell was a business man in Clayton for many years. He opened the first BP Station (on the site of the G.I. Joe’s building), as well as several smaller service stations. He was a master mechanic and a talented artisan in iron works; many structures in Clayton today display his handiwork. He was also Vice-President of Tar Heel Steel in Smithfield. In his retirement he worked part-time for NATVAR sharpening industrial knives, and he taught welding at Johnston Community College. He continued to fabricate parts for cars to help his friends save money on their auto repairs. Mr. McDowell served his country on the LST 241 during World War II in the South Pacific at Guam and the Battles of Midway and Iwo Jima. He later was an active member of the Clayton American Legion. Prior to his service he worked in the Civilian Corp building barracks at Fort Bragg and Camp Lejeune. He planted forests from Bend, Oregon, to the talking trees in Clayton’s Clemmons Forest. This particular feat gave his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren bragging rights and lots of shade for picnic and lessons in the forest with Granddaddy in tow. He is survived by daughters Representative Donna McDowell White and Lynette McDowell Worlds, both of Clayton. Grandchildren are Jason Bagwell and wife Mandy of Clayton, Richard White and Alexis Hignite of Carolina Beach, Dori Franklin and husband David of Garner, Michael Alligood and wife Nicole of Cary, Deanna Hart and husband Jim of Cary, and Catherine Worlds of Raleigh. He has eight great-grandchildren: Caitlyn and Ethan Bagwell, Esther and Anne Marie Franklin, Brady and Taylor Alligood and Chase and Davis Hart. He is also survived by two sisters, Rae Gainey and Vera Jones of Bolivia, NC. He is loved and honored by many nieces and nephews from the McDowell Clan and the Hill family. He is preceded in death by his wife Esther Hill McDowell, his parents, his brothers Claude, Charlie, Clayton, Bailey Lee, Glenwood, and Dorman, and his sisters Lela and Doris. Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 am on Saturday, August 26, 2017 in the chapel of McLaurin Funeral Home with Dr. Steve Roy officiating. Entombment will follow at Pinecrest Memorial Park Mausoleum. The family will receive friends on Saturday one hour prior to the service from 10:00 until 11:00am at the funeral home. While flowers are accepted, memorial contributions may also be made to a scholarship fund which was established in his wife’s name -- Esther Hill McDowell, c/o Four Oaks Bank, P.O. Box 247, Clayton, NC 27528. The scholarship is given to a Clayton High School graduate who is seeking continuing education at Johnston Community College. Five Scholarships have been awarded since 2011. The Scholarship’s name will be changed to the Richard and Esther McDowell Scholarship. Online condolences may be made to the McDowell family at www.mclaurinatpinecrest.com. Arrangements are with McLaurin Funeral Home, Clayton.