Edward James Dowd

Mr. Dowd was born in Brooklyn, New York, one of four children of Edward Charles and Mary Lord Dowd. He graduated from Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn and served in the U.S. Army and later as a navigator with Pan American Airlines during World War II, ferrying personnel and supplies from Brazil to Africa and the Middle East. During the war, he met and married Doris Mae Dellinger of Rome. They returned to Rome after the war and he went to work with his father-in-law, Walter Dellinger at Dellinger Incorporated, making chenille bedspreads, and later custom carpeting which was distributed nationwide. Doris Dowd passed away in 1987 and a few years later, Mr. Dowd married Hazel Hay and they had nineteen happy years together before her death in 2008. Mr. Dowd was a selfless and devoted husband and father. He gave his children and many of his grandchildren the college education that he never had and took great pride in their accomplishments. He was a faithful member of First Baptist Church in Rome and attended Sunday school and church services up to the time of his death. He was active in Campus Crusade and a generous supporter of many Christian ministries.

He is survived by three children, Sharyn Dowd of Decatur, Georgia; Bryan Dowd of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Doris Lord Moss of Mableton, Georgia. He also has two step-children, Lucy Vick of Cincinnati, Ohio and Willard (Dub) Hay of Sonoma, California; six grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and three step-great-grandchildren, and many nephews and nieces, including Penney Mitchell Burton of Rome and Mary Inglis of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The family would like to thank all of the friends in Rome who provided love and support for Mr. Dowd in recent years, especially Debra Garrett and Erin Massingill of Right at Home Care, Mike Scofield and Sharman Turner, and all his friends in the O. M. Cates Class at First Baptist.

A memorial service for Edward Dowd will be held at First Baptist Church of Rome on Saturday, July 16, 2016. The family will receive friends at 10 a.m. in the small dining room and the service will be in the chapel at 11 a.m. Instead of flowers, Mr. Dowd may be honored by contributions to First Baptist Church, 100 E 4th Ave, Rome, GA 30161.

Daniel’s Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.