Joseph Julian Dowd, 69, passed away Sunday, Aug. 29, 2010. Funeral Mass: 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Michael Catholic Church in Bedford. Interment: Bear Creek Cemetery in Euless. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at St. Michael Catholic Church, with prayer vigil beginning at 7 p.m. Joseph Julian Dowd was born in Far Rockaway, N.Y., on April 2, 1941, to Francis and Antoinette Groenewold Dowd. Joe grew up in a loving family with five siblings, all of whom survive him: Donald Dowd of Jupiter, Fla., Paul Dowd of Manchester, N.H., James Dowd of Duxbury, Mass., Frances LaPenna of King of Prussia, Pa., and Phillip Dowd of Dublin, Ga. Joe graduated from Central High School in Valley Stream, N.Y., in 1959. He then attended St. Anselm's College in Manchester, N.H., and New York State University at Farmingdale while serving as a volunteer firefighter for the Valley Stream Fire Department - a passion he pursued for over 20 years. It was during his time at Farmingdale that Joe developed a fondness for his sister's friend, Judith DeClue. The two were married Sept. 17, 1966. After an abbreviated honeymoon, Joe was whisked away the next day to basic training and later Vietnam, where he served with distinction in the U.S. Army from Sept. 21, 1966, to Sept. 2, 1968, earning the Air Medal. Upon his safe return to the United States, Joe and Judy enjoyed 44 years of devoted marriage. Their life together was blessed with a wonderful family as Joe was a loving and dedicated father of three: Christine Fox of Keller, Lauren Bieryla-Hutto of Grapevine and Joseph Dowd of Dallas. Joe was a loyal employee of American Airlines in flight dispatch for 40 years and a builder of custom homes. He retired in 2005 to enjoy spending time with his wife, his children, his 11 grandchildren and his many hobbies, especially the Colleyville Citizens Fire Academy.
Published in Star-Telegram on September 2, 2010