Ronald R. "Jake" McDowell 1943-2007

MCDOWELL, THOMPSON, SCARFF, BISHOP, TOWNSEND, MILLER, HILLS

Posted By: Deb (email)
Date: 1/3/2008 at 22:09:17

The Burlington Hawkeye, Thursday, January 3, 2008
Ronald McDowell
Ronald R. "Jake" McDowell, 64, of Mount Pleasant, died Monday, Dec. 31, 2007, at his home.

Born April 17, 1943, in Wyman, he was the son of James and Irene Thompson McDowell. In 1963, he married Patricia Scarff. They divorced. On Feb. 11, 1995, he married Linda Bishop.

Mr. McDowell was a barber for 10 years. He worked for the United States Postal Service for 30 years, retiring in 2003. He served in the National Guard for six years. He was a graduate of Mount Pleasant High School. He was a 27-year-member of the chain gang for the Mount Pleasant football team and a member of the Goal Line Club. He was a charter member of Pheasants Forever and the Dickeys' Coffee Club. He enjoyed playing cards, hunting, gardening and golfing.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Tom McDowell of Oskaloosa and Tony McDowell of Mount Pleasant; one daughter, Terri Townsend of Bloomfield; two stepsons, Jason Bishop of Fairfield and Michael Miller of Colorado Springs, Colo.; three brothers, Bill McDowell of Cottage Grove, Minn., Lloyd McDowell of Moravia and Larry McDowell of Ottumwa; one, sister, Clara Hills of Winfield; six grandchildren; and three stepgrandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at New London Christian Church, where the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m.

The funeral for Mr. McDowell will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, at New London Christian Church with the Rev. Rod Cooper officiating. A family burial will be held at a later date.

Memorials have been established for H2O (Help to Others) and the Henry County Conservation Board.