Telford Gilmer Dowdy, 79, of Union, WV, passed away Wednesday morning, July 15, 2015, at the Greenbrier Valley Medical Center in Fairlea, WV, following a short illness.
Born April 12, 1936, at Eads Mountain, WV, he was the oldest of 10 children born to the late Gilmer Gilchrist and Sadie Christine Weikle Dowdy.
He loved farming and telling stories of his farming experiences and doing things the old way. He was a family man and was concerned about his family and cared for his parents until their deaths in his presence. He was a member of the Union Memorial Baptist Church at Union, where he served as a deacon and church reporter.
Telford often said he was not afraid of dying, but was concerned about how he might die; thankfully, he died peacefully on Wednesday morning.
He was preceded in death by four sisters, Naomi and Freda, who passed away young, and Elizabeth and Caroline; and two brothers, Winford and Gene Edward, who also passed away young.
Those left to cherish his memory are a brother, Edward “Eddie” Dowdy of Union; two sisters, Wanda Dowdy of Union and Revie Jackson and husband, Gene, of Pickaway, WV; a nephew, Jamie Jackson and wife, Jennifer, of Ronceverte, WV; a stepnephew, Kevin Jackson and wife, Tonja, of White Sulphur Springs, WV; and stepniece, Tina Hoke and husband, Daniel, of Ronceverte.
Funeral services are scheduled for Sunday, July 19, 2015, at 2 PM at the Groves Funeral Home Chapel in Union with the Revs. Mark Shafer and Todd Baker officiating.
Friends my call at the funeral home in Union from 6-8 PM on Saturday, July 18.
The family requests that memorial donations be made to the Union Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 78, Union, WV 24983; Mt. Prospect Baptist Church, Route 1, Box 210A, Union, WV 24983; or Union Memorial Baptist Church, c/o Ann Parker, Route 2, Box 234, Sinks Grove, WV 24976.
Those wishing to send the Dowdy family online condolences or sign the online guestbook may do so by visiting www.grovesfuneralhome. com.
Groves Funeral Home in Union is in charge of arrangements.
Obituary originally published in the July 17, 2015, edition of The West Virginia Daily News.
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