Irene Lovering Dowd

Irene Lovering Dowd passed away peacefully in her home on July 28 after living a long and fruitful life of 104 years. She was born November 6, 1913 in Toledo, Ohio, to her parents Ralph Courtney and Alice Maude (Sherick) Lovering. Early life was spent in Toledo where she graduated from Scott High School and the University of Toledo. While still in high school she met John Dowd, then attending the University of Toledo, at a local tennis court. They were married in 1936. During their marriage the couple lived in Pittsburgh, Chicago, Cincinnati, Toledo, Louisville, Tampa, Jacksonville, Ft Lauderdale, and Boca Raton.

Irene and John have two children: Linda Newman, born in 1939 and currently living in South Carolina, and Philip Dowd, born in 1941 and currently living in Illinois.

Her husband John passed away in 2005. In addition to her two children, she is survived by two granddaughters, Leigh Sherick Newman, currently living in South Carolina and Nell Christine Newman, currently living in California, and three great-grandchildren, Alexander Brayden Archuleta, Camryn Elizabeth Archuleta, and Alyssa Lauren Archuleta.

How to summarize a life of 104 years? She loved cooking, gardening (especially violets and orchids), reading, and sewing. She had a fantastic memory and could remember every good thing her children did. She loved watching “Dancing With the Stars,” because she loved ballroom dancing with her husband, John. She was frugal but loved having a good time. In short, she was a great Mom. We already miss her.