LOUISE SMITH DOWLING
Died Oct. 9, 2010
Louise Smith Dowling, 93, died Saturday, Oct. 9, at Britthaven in Goldsboro from natural causes.
Louise is survived by her two children, Hank Dowling of New Mexico, and Mary "Louise" McKay of California; two grandchildren, Sara Dowling of Georgia and Lani McKay of Nevada; a sister, Dorothy Thomas, formerly of Goldsboro, now residing in Maryland; many nephews and nieces; and first cousins, Elbert, Gilbert and Rufus Brown, and their families of Goldsboro.
Born to Royal Wright Smith and Nettie Garner of Durham, Louise was one of six children.
She graduated from Durham High School and Croft Secretarial and Accounting School before marrying Henry Dowling from Fairfax, S.C., in 1943 prior to his Army Air Force deployment overseas.
After moving to Goldsboro in 1947, Louise's first job was as a teller with Home Building & Loan.
In 1953, she became the secretary for Edgewood School, where Rosena Pittman (later Rosena Armstrong) was the principal, and William Street School, where she was secretary to principal Louise Dowtin. These two positions kept her finger on the pulse of her children and their activities.
Louise possessed remarkable talent. Among the things she enjoyed most in her life were Brownies, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts leadership activities with her children, sewing clothes and costumes for them, photography, camping, cake decorating, visiting her mom in Durham, planning Christmases, making ornaments, creating themed parties for family and friends at work, basket weaving, cooking, crewel work and knitting. Working on crafts, organizing things and balancing her checkbook made her day.
In 1980, Louise retired from the Goldsboro Department of Social Services after many years as secretary to caseworker Viola Titus.
She was a member of Daniels Memorial United Methodist Church in Goldsboro.
A resident of Alterra Sterling House for almost 10 years, Louise moved to Britthaven of Goldsboro in June 2010.
With Louise's two children living out of state, the family wishes to thank Goldsboro relatives for their kind attention and visits over many years, as well as Gail Worrells and Ruby Davis, who always knew what to say and do at the right time.
A memorial service for Louise Dowling will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Seymour Funeral Home. A private interment will be Friday at Maplewood Cemetery in Durham.
The family will gather at Seymour Funeral Home following the service Thursday for a reception and a time of visitation.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.seymourfuneralhome.com.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on October 11, 2010 1:48 PM