Thomas Gilbert Dowell Sr.

THOMAS GILBERT DOWELL, SR., 89, went to heaven on Tuesday, 10/30/2012. Tom was at Hospice of Union County, Monroe, NC. Tom was a beloved father, grandfather and friend. My dad was always there for my brother and for me, a wonderful father and grandfather for my sons, not only remembering every birthday, but spending time with them, driving them to school, work, anywhere they needed. He was completely independent and active and driving right up to 2-1/2 weeks before his death. He was a giving and generous person, gave to multiple charities regularly, especially Veteran causes and animal charities. He loved football and was an avid OSU fan, never missed one of their games on TV, even if it meant driving a good distance to get the game on a TV somewhere! Tom was born 12/03/1922 in Trinway, Ohio, delivered at home by Dr. Edwards (his great uncle), a physician who lived next door. He attended elementary school in Trinway and junior high and high school in Dresden, Ohio. Upon graduation from high school, he attended Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio for a year, before entering the Army in 01/1943. He served in WWII in the European Theatre of Operations in England and France. He was assigned as a clerk to the 137th General Hospital in the Medical Department as TEC4 Sargeant and HQ 804th Hospital Center and worked under field conditions. After his Honorable Discharge and American Theater ribbon, EAME Theater ribbon, Good Conduct Medal and Victory Medial WWII, he came home in 03/1946. Upon returning home, he married Grace Reynolds and entered Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. He graduated in 1950 with a BS in Commerce. 1950 was also the year his son, Thomas Gilbert Dowell, Jr. was born. Thomas Sr. and his wife and son lived in Columbus, Ohio for 4 years before building a house in Gahanna, Ohio in 1954, just before his daughter, Pamela was born. Tom's career spanned several jobs in accounting including the majority of his career at the State of Ohio Department of Education from which he retired in 1984. Tom lived in Gahanna until 1985 when he retired to North Fort Myers, Florida. Starting in 1994, Tom traveled extensively in his motorhome for 10 years, residing in Florida in the winter, Ohio in the summer, and visiting his daughter and grandsons in between. He also visited most of the 50 United States in that motorhome, always trying to look up old friends and relatives on the way. He flew to Europe to revisit his WWII tour of duty some years back. Finally, he moved to Monroe, NC in 2005 to be closer to his daughter and 2 grandsons. Tom recently flew to Washington DC with other WWII veterans to see the memorial built in their honor, which he thoroughly enjoyed and thereby made new friends here locally. Tom is preceded in death by his son, Thomas Gilbert Dowell, Jr. He is survived by his daughter Pam Williamson and husband Jim, 2 grandsons Michael Baker and Samuel Baker as well as Tom's 2 beloved dogs, Pat and Bear, all of Indian Trail, NC; along with Jim's grandson Evan and Jim's extended family in Catawba, SC. At Tom's request, In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Red Cross or your favorite animal charity. Memorial services with military honors will be held 10:30 a.m. 11/17/2012 at Mifflin Township Cemetery, Gahanna, Ohio. Do Not Weep For Me Do not weep for me, for I have lived... I have joined my hand with my fellows' hands, to leave the planet better than I found it. Do not weep for me, for I have loved and been loved by my family, by those I loved who loved me back for I never knew a stranger, only friends. Do not weep for me. When you feel the ocean spray upon your face, I am there. When your heart beats faster at the dolphin's leaping grace, I am there. When you reach out to touch another's heart, as now I touch God's face, I am there. Do not weep for me. I am not gone. Poet unknown (read for Michael Landon ) Death is nothing at all. I have only slipped away into the next room. I am I, and you are you. Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. Call me by my old familiar name, speak to me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference in your tone, wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we have always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me, Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without effect without the trace of a shadow on it, Life means all that it ever meant. It was the same as it ever was; there is unbroken continuity. What is this death but a negligible accident? Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner. All is well. Henry Scott Holland, 1847-1918 If I should die and leave you here awhile, Be not like others, sore undone, who keep Long vigils by the silent dust, and weep. For my sake turn again to life and smile, Nerving thy heart and trembling hands to do Something to comfort weaker hearts than thine. Complete those dear unfinished tasks of mine And I perchance may therein comfort you. Attrib. A Price Hughes Not, how did he die, but how did he live? Not, what did he gain, but what did he give? These are the units to measure the worth Of a man as a man, regardless of birth. Not what was his church, nor what was his creed? But had he befriended those really in need? Was he ever ready, with word of good cheer, To bring back a smile, to banish a tear? Not what did the sketch in the newspaper say, But how many were sorry when he passed away? Anon Footprints One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonging to him, and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life, that there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life. This really bothered him, and he questioned the Lord about it. " Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times of my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why, when I needed you most you would leave me". The Lord replied "My Son, My precious child. I Love You, and would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you". Anon When Tomorrow Starts Without Me When tomorrow starts without me, and I am not here to see, If the sun should rise and find your eyes all filled with tears for me, I know how much you love me as much as I love you, And each time you think of me I know you'll miss me too. But when tomorrow starts without me please try to understand, That Jesus came and called my name and took me by the hand. He said my place is ready in heaven far above, And that I have to leave behind all those I dearly love. But as I turned to walk away a tear fell from my eye, For all my life I'd always thought it wasn't my time to die. I had so much to live for and so much yet to do, It seems almost impossible that I was leaving you. I thought of all the yesterdays the good ones and the bad, I thought of all the love we shared and all the fun we had. If I could have stayed for just a little while, I'd say goodbye and kiss you and maybe see you smile. But then I fully realise that this could never be, For emptiness and memories would take the place of me. And when I thought of worldly things that I'd miss come tomorrow, I thought of you and when I did my heart was filled with sorrow. But when I walked through Heaven's gate and felt so much at home, As God looked down and smiled at me from his great golden throne. He said "This is eternity, And all I've promised you, Today your life on earth is past, but here it starts anew." "I promise no tomorrow but today will always last, And since each day's the same here there's no longing for the past." So when tomorrow starts without me don't think we're far apart, For every time you think of me I'm right here in your heart. Anon If I should go tomorrow It would never be goodbye, For I have left my heart with you, So don't you ever cry. The love that's deep within me, Shall reach you from the stars, You'll feel it from the heavens, And it will heal the scars. Anon Stairway to Heaven They say memories are golden, Well, maybe that is true; I never wanted memories, I only wanted you. A million times I needed you, A million times I cried; If love alone could have saved you, You never would have died. In life I loved you dearly, In death I love you still; In my heart you hold a piece No one could ever fill. But now I know you want me To mourn for you no more, To remember the happy times Life still has much in store. Since you'll never be forgotten I pledge to you today; A hallowed place within my heart Is where you'll always stay. If tears could build a stairway And heartache make a lane; I'd walk the path to heaven And bring you back again. Our family chain is broken, and nothing seems the same; But as God calls us one by one, The chain will link again. Lyrics by Robert Plant & Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin) Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, " See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away." And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true." Then he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. Those who conquer will inherit these things, and I will be their God and they will be my children. Revelation 21:1-7

Thomas Gilbert Dowell Sr.

December 3, 1922 - October 30, 2012