Dowdy Jr., Edison Lincoln
Edison Lincoln Dowdy Jr., 66, of Glen Allen, Va., formerly of Pearisburg, passed away Friday, August 27, 2010, at Retreat Hospital in Richmond, Va. Eddie, or “Rowdy” as he was called by his close friends, was preceded in death by his parents, Lida McCoy Dowdy and Edison L. Dowdy Sr. Eddie was born in Radford, Va. on January 15, 1944.
Eddie joined the First United Methodist Church in Pearisburg on April 15, 1962. He moved his membership there in 2006 to Shady Grove United Methodist Church in Glen Allen, Va. Eddie owned and operated Dowdy’s Jewelers, Inc. in Pearisburg for the last 25 of its 44 years in business. He was also founder of D & A Auto Parts (NAPA) in Pearisburg which celebrated its 27th anniversary in 2010. He was a Graduate Watchmaker, Jeweler, Engraver and held the G.I.A. Diamond Certificate.
Eddie received numerous awards in his life, but was especially proud to have been a Co-Chair with his friend, Freddie Williams, for the Pearisburg Lions Club Christmas Shopping Tour for needy children and their families. Eddie and his wife, Alice, along with their good friends, Don and Susan Allen, were the founders of the first Giles Relay For Life for the American Cancer Society. The Relay celebrated its ninth year in 2010 and is known as a leader in the Mid-Atlantic Region, as well as on the National Level. It has raised over 1.1 million dollars.
Eddie was a Corvette and Harley-Davidson lover and had gathered an extended family of car and motorcycle friends over the years. After taking up golf at the age of 50, he enjoyed playing with his grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Alice Williams Dowdy, of Glen Allen; one son, Tony Dowdy and his wife, Anne, of Glen Allen; one daughter, Elizabeth D. Skaggs and husband, Mitch, of Roanoke; three grandchildren, Edison Drew Lagan, of Roanoke, Stephanie Anne and Caroline Grace Dowdy, of Glen Allen; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Dorothy (Dot) Williams, of Pearisburg, Bob and Ethel Ropp, of Chesapeake, Margaret W. Stowers, of Radford, Martha W. Sanders, of Cuthbert, Ga., Thomas (Tom) and Loretta Williams, of Roanoke , Connie W. Kramer, of Roanoke, and Jerry and Phyllis (Snooky) Williams, of Pembroke. Also, three aunts, Pauline Dowdy, of Blacksburg, Ruth and Rachael McCoy, of McCoy, Va.; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services will be conducted, Monday, August 30, 2010, at 2 p.m. at the Pearisburg First United Methodist in Pearisburg with the Rev. Eddie Kendall and Dr. Fred L. Austin officiating. Burial will follow in the Birchlawn Burial Park in Pearisburg. The family will receive friends at the Pearisburg First United Methodist Church Sunday evening from 6 to 8 p.m.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society , Giles Relay For Life , Sandra Clark, 307 Mayo Circle, Pearisburg, Va. 24134.
The family wants to thank Dr. Fintel, Dr. Richards, Dr. Rogers, Dr. Hess, Scott Myers, and daughter, Elizabeth, ANP., and all of God’s angels at Blue Ridge Cancer Care Chemotherapy and Radiation Departments located at Lewis-Gale Hospital in Salem, Va. Also, many thanks to the nurses of Hospice of Virginia.
Online condolences can be sent to the family at givensfuneralhome.com.