Ray Dowdle

[caption id="attachment_7229" align="alignleft" width="109" caption="Ray Dowdle"][/caption] Mr. Ray Dowdle, 83, of Statesville, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, February 14, 2014, surrounded by his loving family. Mr. Dowdle was born in Haywood County on May 23, 1930 and was one of 15 children born to the late Plennie E. Dowdle and Bessie Barton Dowdle. Mr. Dowdle was a graduate of Franklin High School and was just one day short of celebrating his 58 wedding anniversary to Betty Church Dowdle, whom he married on February 15, 1956. Mr. Dowdle retired at the age of 80 from Piedmont Healthcare where he was the Director of Facility Services. He was also a member of the North Iredell Ruritans and the Olin Masonic Lodge. Mr. Dowdle was a member of Mt. Sinai Evangelical Methodist Church. In addition to his parents and his step-mother, Launa N. Dowdle, Mr. Dowdle was preceded in death by six brothers, his twin brother, Ralph, Carl and his wife Iris, Clarence, Jim, Shirley, and Earl Dowdle and one sister, Betty Holland. He was also preceded in death by three brother-in-laws, Bob Church and his wife Martha, Johnnie Tilley, and Tim Kilpatrick. Along with his wife of 57 years, Betty Church Dowdle, he is survived by one daughter, Brenda D. Bell (Odean) and two sons, Steve Dowdle (Ginger) and Rick Dowdle (Julie), all of Statesville. He is also survived by five grandsons, Steven Dowdle (Holly), Kyle Bell (Lindsey), Ethan Dowdle and Jeremiah and Aaron Collins; two granddaughters, Crystal Mayes (Jimmy) and Karlie Dowdle, all of Statesville; great-grandchildren, Ali Grace and Riley Dowdle and Garrett and Raelynn Mayes. He is further survived by six sisters, Bonnie Kelly (Bob), Nell Goforth (Ray), Louise Williamson (Bill), Marie Brabson (Bobby), Pauline Stiwinter (Morris), and Carolyn Chastain (Roy), and one brother, Charles Dowdle (Linda); seven sister-in-laws, Pearl Tilley, Margie Kilpatrick, Jeanette Dowdle, Nanette Dowdle, Janet Dowdle, Joyce Dowdle, and Virginia Dowdle, and one brother-in-law, Odell Church (Debbie). Funeral service for Mr. Dowdle will be conducted at 11:00 AM Tuesday, February 18, 2014 at Fairview Baptist Church with Pastor David Walters, Pastor William Wease, and Pastor Steven Dowdle officiating. Burial with full military honors provided by the North Carolina Burial Detail will follow in the Mt. Sinai EMC Cemetery, 306 Fairmount Road, Statesville. The family will visit with friends Monday evening from 5:30 until 7:30 pm at Fairview Baptist Church. Memorials may be made to Iredell County Hospice and Palliative Care, 2347 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625 or to Mr. Sinai Evangelical Methodist Church, 306 Fairmount Road, Statesville, NC 28625. Online condolences can be made to the family at www.nicholosonfunerals.com/obituaries and Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the family of Mr. Ray Dowdle.