John Mcdowell

Services for John McDowell, who died Sunday July 13, 2008, will be held Saturday July 19s`, 2008 at the Kevin A. Beardsley Funeral Home, Clearfield at 11am.

John was born in Clearfield, March 16th, 1927, graduating high school in 1945. He was drafted immediately to the US Army and served in Italy with the 752'd Tank Battalion from 1945-1947; attaining rank of T4.

Upon returning from Europe, he worked for Cams Brothers Construction and, later, Clearfield Machine Co. He became a master cabinet-maker with a diligent work ethic and an eye for craftsmanship. His abilities later earned him employment as Chief Building Inspector for the State Public School Building Authority in Harrisburg, PA; from which, along with employment at Community Action, he retired. During his retirement years he spent much time helping his children with various home remodeling projects, large and small. And, he enjoyed traveling throughout many parts of the US.

Mr. McDowell was preceded in death by his mother, Helen (McDowell) Bannon. He is survived by his former spouse, Ann (McDowell) Dotts, his daughter, Karen (McDowell) Auman and husband (Larry) of Clearfield, his sons, Jeffrey and Mark of Scottsdale, AZ, his son Kelly and wife (Brenda) of Gainesville, FL, his son Bradley and wife (Jennifer) of Livermore, CA and son Craig and wife (Claire) of Dallas, GA and brother-in-law, Nick Fusco and wife (Pat) of Sanford, FL.

He is also survived by 17 grandchildren: Michael Catalano and wife (Julie) of Mars, PA, Laura (Catalano) Pierce and husband (Art) of Gibsonia, PA, Jennifer Catalano and fiance (Virgil) of Washington, DC, Rio, Rush and Tate McDowell of Scottsdale, AZ, Kyle and Kayla McDowell of Gainesville, FL, Brandon, Danielle, Carson and Parker McDowell of Livermore, CA, Cas, Cara and Nichola McDowell of Dallas, GA, Matthew and companion (Kathy) of Pine Grove Mills, PA and Jessica and husband (Brendan) of Aliquippa, PA, and 3 great-grandchildren: Teah, Grant and Ella Rose Pierce of Gibsonia, PA, and his niece, Kelly Fusco of Laveen, AZ.

John was known by all who knew him for his passionate ardor of Penn State football, his sarcastic wit, his strong love of going to Benezette with Gordon to follow and photograph the elk herds, for his love of baseball (he played organized baseball throughout his youth, in high school and with the Post 6 Chiefs), his physical strength and, above all, his integrity. John was a Protestant by faith and raised Presbyterian. He was a life-long member of the BPOE 540 Lodge and the American Legion. He will be sadly missed by his family, his friends and those friends his family brought into his sphere.

Visitation will be Friday evening, July 18th from 6:00pm - 8:30pm and on Saturday from 10:00am - 11:00am. Services will be held Saturday, July 19t' at 11:00am, both at the Kevin A. Beardsley Funeral Home, Clearfield. Interment will be at the Mount Joy Cemetery.

Memorial gifts should be directed to either: Nathaniel D. Yingling Cancer Center, 815 Doctors Drive, Clearfield, PA (16830), or American Heart Association, 501 Howard Avenue, Bldg. D, Suite 101, Altoona, PA (16601).