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Woodward, Okla. — Warren Harding McDowell, 87, passed away April 18, 2011, at Grand Island, NE.
A celebration of life will be held at Billings Funeral Home, Woodward, OK and burial will be in Mooreland, OK on May 14, 2011.
Warren grew up in Mooreland and graduated with honors from Mooreland High School as class president and captain of the basketball team. As a Future Farmers of America member, he raised the state Grand Champion lamb in 1940. Since this was the time leading up to World War II, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He served with distinction as a radar operator, navigator and bombardier with the B-29 Experiment Perilous, stationed primarily on Guam. Warren was promoted rapidly and was a Captain in the Air Force before his 20th birthday.
In 1947, at age 24, driving his Buick convertible, he was caught in the disastrous tornado that hit Woodward and was severely injured. But he was blessed during that hospital stay because he met Gladys Mae Gardner of Quinlan, who soon made him forget about the previous girlfriends.
Warren and Gladys were married December 25, 1947. During the Korean War, he was recalled into the Air Force, and left in 1953 as a Major. He soon enrolled at Panhandle State College to earn his teaching degree, and then lived in Plains, Kansas and Zurich, Kansas, where he was principal of the school. Moving to Colorado Springs, CO in 1963, Warren then worked in school administration for the next 17 years. Upon retirement, he served as administrator for a Christian school in Denver. He and Gladys then moved to Arizona and then Mooreland, OK, where he served as Mayor and Town Council member. To be nearer his children, he and Gladys then moved to Hastings, NE and at the time of his death he was a member of Edgewood Vista Care Center in Grand Island, Ne.
Warren loved children and his career choice in education was ideal. He also was very active in his church, teaching Sunday school classes throughout his adult life. He was an avid sports fan and could often be found on the living room floor listening to his favorite team, the Yankees, and keeping the box score. He loved to laugh, keeping friends and family delighted with his sense of humor. He was an active member of the Church of Christ and also, with Gladys, spent many hours as a volunteer at Woodward Regional Hospital.He is preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Tresa McDowell, his wife, Gladys; one son, Kevin Reed {10 Aug 1956 - 16 Nov 2000}; brothers Edgar, Everett, Verle, and Clair; nephew Kenneth, and sisters Thelma and Faye.
He is survived by one sister, Glenda Ingraham of Buffalo, OK, one son, Mark McDowell and wife Pat of Longmont, CO, on daughter, Kristin Henry and husband Doug of Grand Island, NE, daughter-in-law, Brenda Frame of Lake Havasu City, AZ, ten grandchildren, ten great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews and friends who loved him.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Mooreland Senior Center or the Woodward Regional Center Volunteer Organization.
Online condolences may be directed through www.livson.com.
Reprinted with permission. Submitted by Ann Weber
Gladys Mae {Gardner} McDowell
26 Oct 1923 - 21 Aug 2010
The Woodward News
25 Aug 2010Woodward, Okla. — Gladys M. McDowell, 86, of Grand Island, died Saturday, August 21, 2010 at the Wedgewood Care Center in Grand Island.
Memorial services will be on Saturday at 10:30 A.M. at Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home in Grand Island. Paul Julian and Jerry Quandt will officiate. A celebration of life service and burial will be in Mooreland, Oklahoma at a later date.
Mrs. McDowell was born on October 26, 1923 in Quinlan, Oklahoma, the 10th of 12 children to John Andrew and Mary Elizabeth (Mullins) Gardner.
Survivors of the immediate family include her husband Warren of Grand Island; son Mark McDowell and wife Pat of Longmont, Colorado; daughter, Kristin Henry and husband Doug of Grand Island; daughter-in-law, Brenda Frame of Lake Havasu City, Arizona; brother and wife Robert and Charmaine Gardner of Mooreland, Oklahoma.vAdditional survivors include 10 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Verlee Gardner of Newkirk, Oklahoma, Marge McDowell of Woodward, Oklahoma, Glenda Ingraham of Buffalo, Oklahoma, and brother-in-law and wife, Bid and Leona McDowell of Mooreland, Oklahoma, as well as a host of nieces and nephews.
Gladys lived on a ranch near Quinlan during her childhood, graduating from Quinlan High School in 1941. She worked at the Mooreland Community Hospital, owned a seamstress shop in Mooreland, and then married Warren McDowell on December 25, 1947, after he finished his time in the Air Force during World War II. They made their home in Mooreland, until Warren was called back into the Air Force during the Korean War, and they lived in Georgia, Texas, and California before relocating to the Mooreland area. They then lived in Goodwell, Oklahoma while Warren attended Panhandle State College for his teaching degree. Gladys and Warren lived in Plains and Zurich, Kansas, then moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado where they lived until Warren retired from the School District in 1980. During their retirement years, they moved between Colorado, Arizona, and Mooreland, finally moving to Hastings, Nebraska to be near family.
Gladys enjoyed her career as homemaker and seamstress. She sewed clothing many years as a career and for many friends and for those in need, and in later years made quilts for her family. Gladys also loved crocheting, gardening, and arranging flowers. She was an active member of the Church of Christ, and spent many hours as a volunteer at Woodward Regional Hospital.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one son, Kevin McDowell; four brothers, Charles, John, Lewis, and Harold; sisters, Dorothy McCartney, Vivian Bradley, Mary Scates, Hazel Cunningham, and two infant sisters.
Memorials are suggested to the Mooreland Senior Center or to the Woodward Regional Center Volunteer organization.
On line condolences may be directed to the funeral home web site at www.livson.com.
Reprinted with permission. Submitted by Ann Weber
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