Freddie Carl Dowler

Freddie Carl (Fred) Dowler, 69, passed away at his home in Spring Valley, California following a battle with cancer. The family will receive friends at 9:00 a.m. with a memorial service at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 5, 2017 at the El Cajon Mortuary located at 684 South Mollison Ave., El Cajon, with burial following at the Singing Hills Memorial Park at 2800 Dehesa Road, El Cajon, CA.

Fred was born October 16, 1947 in Arkansas City, KS to Fred J. & Zona W. Dowler. He graduated from Wichita North High School in 1965. Following graduation Fred spent the summer harvesting wheat throughout the upper mid-west and upon returning to Kansas he was offered a job as a sheet metal installer with Cessna Aircraft Company until he was drafted into the United States Army.

Upon his discharge from the military, Fred returned to the Cessna Aircraft Company where he worked for several years in the assembly plant until he was transferred into the jig shop. He was promoted to position of Manufacturing Liaison and later became a Manufacturing Engineer.

During a layoff from Cessna, Fred moved to California and began working as contractor on the BI Bomber. For the next forty years Fred worked as a contractor for many companies including Boeing, Rockwell, and Bell. His work took him to many locations in Californian as well as Texas, West Virginia, and Seattle, Washington. Fred worked on projects such as the Space Shuttle, helicopters, aircraft, and missiles. Fred’s attention to detail and his ability to understand, plan, and document the complex parts, tools, and installation processes of each project served him well until he retired in 2013.

Though Fred was often a man of few words, he made friends easily. Over the years, he enjoyed country music and dancing; he loved wearing cowboy boots. He was an active member of the Faith Chapel Church and truly enjoyed the fellowship of the Connect Sunday School class. Fred had a passion for all thing mechanical and enjoyed the time spent in his shop and working around the house. His wife, Liz, gave him the gift of a 1946 Chevy truck and the last few years Fred enjoyed driving it to car shows as well as spending time with his friends in the Christian Rods and Customs car club.

Fred loved to travel and spend time with his family. In the final season of his life Fred battled cancer and though the disease robbed him of his physical strength it did not touch his spirit of hard work and love for his family. In the last days of his life Fred was blessed to be at home where he received comfort care through hospice and around the clock care from his wife Liz, daughter Kim and her husband Jon, and grandson Kyle, until the Lord received him home. Fred will be greatly missed and never forgotten by his family and friends.

Fred was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his wife Elizabeth Dowler, daughter, Kimberly (Jon) Whitlock of Escondido, CA. Sisters, Kathy Jones and Karen (John) Kelly of Wichita, KS, brother, David Dowler of St. Louis, MO, step children Theresa (Russ) Hamilton of Gallatin, MO, Leesa Pfister of Spring Valley, CA, Duane (Sarah) Johnson of Lake Side, CA, eight grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and many cousins in Kansas.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial may be sent to the American Cancer Society or your favorite charity. Condolences may be left at http://www.dignitymemorial.com/el-cajon-mortuary-cremation-service/