Donald David Towe

Don was born on January 29, 1926, to Severn and Helen Maude (Nellie) Towe in Paullina, Iowa. After graduating from Paullina high school in 1943, he entered the army in 1944 served in the 9th Infantry Division in Germany in WWII and was discharged in 1946.

Upon his return, he attended Iowa State University earning a degree in mechanical engineering in 1950. He first job was with Chamberlain Company in Waterloo, Iowa in 1951. In 1953, he met Rita Jane Dunnwald at a barn dance. They wed in 1954 and moved to Marshalltown, Iowa where Don started a 34-year career with Lennox Industries. The family moved to Texas with his job at Lennox in 1977.

Following Don’s retirement in 1988, he volunteered his time, providing transportation and listening skills to serve the elderly. His hobbies included biking, fishing, hunting, bowling, reading and the stock market. He also invested regularly in his kid’s home projects contributing his painting and handyman skills. All of this he delivered with a smile, a kind word, a generous sense of humor and a “glass is half full” attitude every day.

For 67 years, together he and Jane raised and celebrated their family of three sons, six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Don is predeceased by his parents, his brothers Severn, Robert and Larry and his sisters Alice Marie Ihle, and Marion Turner.

He is survived by his wife Rita (Jane); oldest son, Bill Towe and partner Mike McCurry of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Ken Towe and wife Janet of Coppell, TX and Tom Towe and wife Gail of Richardson TX; his six grandchildren David, Ryan, Kevin, and Kyle, sons of Ken & Janet; Ashley Miller, and Lauren D’Alessandro daughters of Tom & Gail; and their seven great grandchildren, Oliver, Sammie, Charlie, River, Jackson, Daisy, and Madeline. All six grandchildren will be pallbearers.

Don’s entire family offers our thanks to his caregivers and heroes on earth especially Josie Jaramillo for their incredible love and care.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that memorial contributions be made to Metrocrest Services.