John Dowswell Obituary

John Dowswell died September 29, 2011, at Brookdale Place Senior Living, where following a stroke, he spent the last two years of his life, with loving care from staff and family. He was 92. John was born in Montreal, Canada, on January 10, 1919. In 1926, his family immigrated to the United States. John grew up in White Plains, New York, and graduated from Cornell University in 1941. He then joined the U.S. Army Air Corps and was soon sent for pilot training. During World War II, he was a command pilot in the 93rd Bomber Group in Europe and North Africa, flying B-17s and B-24s. John was twice awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism and was wounded in action. While in England John fell in love with Doreen Mary Rudderham. They were married on April 5, 1945 in Norwich, England. They raised four sons - Richard, Christopher, David and Steven - and he had six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Following WWII, John pursued a military career completing various assignments, from commanding a fighter group to becoming a material and logistics expert. He retired in 1971. In 1977, John and Doreen returned to Colorado Springs. John was an active member of the Cheyenne Mountain Lions Club. He served as a volunteer driver for Silver Key for 15 years. John liked working with his hands. He built nearly a dozen homes. He regularly used the hobby shops at Ft Carson to overhaul engines, service cars, and build furniture. He was forever helping friends, neighbors and family fix their cars and do carpentry repairs. He loved sailboats and was a master sailor. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of vintage cars. He and Doreen loved ocean cruises, once going around the world for 102 days. A memorial service is scheduled from 2 to 3:30 pm, Thursday, October 6, 2011, at Swan-Law Funeral Directors, 501 N. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs. In lieu of flowers, please send memorial contributions to the Wounded Warrior Project, 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville, Florida 32256.