Donald Gordon Dowd

Donald Gordon Dowd passed peacefully from this life at home on January 21, 2021 in Springville, Utah.

He was born in Oxnard, California on September 27, 1934 to Gordon Immel Dowd and Delva Jenkins Dowd and was raised in Ojai, California.

He lived a remarkable life and was deeply loved by those who knew him.

He married Barbara Ann Madsen on June 14, 1957 in the Salt Lake Temple.  Don often said that marrying Barbara was the best thing he ever did.  He is now joyfully reunited with his eternal companion after nearly four years of separation.  Don and Barbara met while he was getting his Bachelor of Business degree at the University of Utah.  Don then served two years in the US Navy as Chief Petty Officer aboard a destroyer.  After his time in the Navy, he and mom settled in their beloved Thousand Oaks, California where they lived for the next fifty years. Together, Don and Barbara raised six children – Carl, Blair, Brian, Pam, Duane, and Julie.  He was a devoted husband and worked hard as a CPA to provide for his family.

Don had a great love of music which he passed on to his children.  He sang for many years in a quartet with his sons.  He also sang in several choirs including the Southern California Mormon Choir with his daughter Pam.  As a Senior at Nordhoff High School, he was recognized as the school’s most outstanding athlete.  Don also loved to garden, hike, and especially to tell jokes – he was often the life of the party.

Don served faithfully in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  One of his favorite callings was as Scout Master and he often talked proudly about “his scouts.”  Don and Barbara served a full-time mission in Santa Rosa, California.  They served subsequent missions together at the Moorpark Institute of Religion and the Provo Missionary Training Center.  They also served, along with Carl, at both the Los Angeles and Provo LDS Temples.

Special thanks to Brian and Tammy Dowd for their dedicated service to Dad during the final years of his life – they have gone above and beyond.

Don is survived by his six children, Carl, Blair (Stephanie), Brian (Tammy), Pamela Carpenter, Duane (Rochelle), and Julie Martin; 21 grandchildren, and 9 great grandchildren.

To maintain proper social distancing, the viewing and funeral will be for family only.  The viewing will be held on Friday, February 5 from 9:00 am to 10:30 am followed by funeral services at 11:00 am at the LDS Chapel located at 996 West Center Street, Springville, Utah.  Please note that Family includes cousins and spouses for the viewing (9-10:30), the service (11-12) and the interment, immediately following the service. Thank you for the pouring out of love our Family has felt ❤

The funeral will be streamed live for all others at https://www.facebook.com/wheelermortuary.

Interment will be at Utah Veterans Cemetery at Camp Williams immediately following the services with military rites by the American Legion.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Missionary Fund.