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Harold Eugene Dowden

January 19, 1927 - February 2, 2017

Harold Eugene Dowden, 90, of Ankeny passed away February 2, 2017 after a brief illness at Mercy Hospital.
Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, February 8, 2017 at Ankeny First
United Methodist Church. A visitation will be held 5 to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 7th at Ankeny Memorial Chapel (4208 N. Ankeny Blvd).
Harold was born January 19, 1927 in Bethany, Missouri at the home of his Maternal Grandparents, Donald and Rose Hollock. This birth turned out to be the only child of Harold and Kathryn Dowden of Maryville, Missouri. Harold’s father was employed by Townsend’s Wholesale Grocery Company and was transferred to Shenandoah, Iowa with Townsend’s in 1931 in time for Harold Jr. to begin school in Shenandoah.
Harold completed High School in 1944 during World War II and enlisted in the Army Air Corp. After spending a year at Creighton University in ASTRP program spent another year in Germany as Air Crew Chief. When he came home he continued his education in Engineering at Iowa State, and began working for the Iowa Highway Commission in mid-1948.
Harold was married to Mavis Purtle August 29, 1948 and from that time on, Harold worked with the Department of Transportation which was a big part of their lives for the next 42 years. In those years Harold went from Inspector of Highway Construction to Director of Construction for the DOT in Ames, Iowa.
Harold served many organizations and clubs as either officer of board member during free time from his life work. He was Adjutant of the American Legion in Red Oak, iowa for seven years, and became a life member of the Jaycee’s at the same time. He served on various Boards for Country Clubs in Red Oak, Iowa, and Huxley, Iowa, the United Methodist Church in Red Oak, and Ankeny.
Harold and Mavis had two daughters and along with his love of golf and travel, family and children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren, what more could he ask for ??
He is survived by his daughters Marla Williams and Tena (Kenneth) Nelson; 5 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Mavis, and a great-grandson.