Dorothy Dowd Howard

Dixie was born on March 2, 1929 to Richard Alexander Dowd and Dora Henderson Dowd. She frequently recounted stories of her happy childhood. She was an excellent student, and she skipped two grades and graduated from high school with highest honors. She started her Bachelor of Arts in English at Elon College in 1945, but her studies were prolonged by marriage and a move to New Bern; she did not receive her degree until 1960. Dixie was a tenacious woman, and her daughters fondly remember the summers they spent at Elon College with their mother while she was completing her undergraduate degree. Dixie subsequently received a Master of Arts in Elementary Education in 1969.

Dixie began her career in education in the New Bern City School System where she taught second graders at Trent Park Elementary School and then seventh graders at Central School. She worked with the Elementary and Secondary Education Act reading program in New Bern before moving to Raleigh in 1973 as a consultant for the Division of Planning and Accreditation in the North Carolina State Department of Public Instruction. She was a member of several committees and played a major role in developing accreditation guidelines in North Carolina schools and in the development of community college programs. After retiring, she became a real estate agent with Birch-Moore, Inc. in Raleigh and maintained her realtor’s license for the remainder of her life.

Dixie was a woman of great faith, always reading her daily devotionals, attending church services on a regular basis, and singing hymns softly to herself as she joyfully worked in her garden. She was a world-wide traveler and lifelong learner and thoroughly enjoyed engaging in intellectual discussions with her daughters. Everyone who knew her commented on her outgoing personality and phenomenal mental acuity right up until her passing.

She is survived by her daughters, Dr. Barbara J. Howard (Jed Kennish) and Sandra L. Moser (Larry B. Moser); grandchildren, Travis B. Moser (Anne Kane), Shelley Moser West, and Jennifer R. DeBerardinis; great granddaughter, Harper Reynolds West; brother, Richard (Dick) A. Dowd, Jr. and children of Dick including Richard, Willliam, and Roxanne; and Jane Gabrielson Mikol, Rusty Gabrielson, and Anne Gabrielson who were second cousins but considered children by Dixie. She was formerly married to Wendell R. Howard (deceased/divorced) and fondly known as Chub. The many nieces and nephews of Chub were always and still remain her family members.

Funeral services will be held in the Sanctuary at Garber Methodist Church on Friday, April 24th at 1:00 pm with a reception following in Room 125 of the Children’s Hall. Interment will occur at Glendon Independent Christian Church in Glendon, North Carolina at 1:00 pm on Sunday, April 26th.