Sep 20, 2005 2 min read

Colonel Robert E. McDowell, 86, a retired Air Force Colonel, died at his home in Laurel, Md., on September 8, 2005. He is the beloved husband of the late Madeline Brooks of Connellsville, Pa., who died in 1998.

He is survived by a brother, Harry of Connellsville, his daughter, Carolyn, and son-in-law, Michael McCormick of McLean, Va., Son, Robert of San Leandro, Calif., and three grandchildren: Megan, Kel, and Gabriel.

Colonel McDowell was born in Dunbar, Pa., on September 22, 1918. His parents were John and Eva McDowell and three deceased brothers, John Irvin, Howard and Harry.

Despite his travel far and wide, Colonel McDowell valued his home and frequently visited Dunbar and Connellsville to maintain contact with family and friends in the area. His last trip was in July 2005.

The Colonel enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942 and retired fro the Air Force in 1971. During his career he traveled to Texas, Missouri, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Florida, Pennsylvania, Alabama, California, Virginia, Nevada and Maryland as well as India, Korea and Iceland. Trained as a navigator, he was later a personnel officer earning multiple decorations and awards including the Distinguished Flying Cross. He felt strongly, however, that his wife, Madeline, contributed significantly to his accomplishments and he owed her for any of his successes.

Since his retirement, Colonel McDowell had continued to travel extensively and to enjoy his hobby of thoroughbred horse racing. When he died, he even had a winning ticket to be cashed at Laurel Race Track making him a winner to the end.

Services in honor of Colonel McDowell will be held at FORT MEYER CHAPEL, VA., on Monday, November 21, 2005 at 9 a.m. followed by a full military honors burial in Arlington Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be mad to Capital Hospice.