Dr. William Kent Dowding, 90, passed quietly and peacefully, into the arms of our Lord on March 16, 2014 from complications of a stroke.
Ken was born August 16th, 1923, to Willard and Viola Dowding, in Jacksonville, Missouri, the youngest of four children. He attended Moberly Junior College where he met his wife and best friend Betty (Nee Carter). They were married on June 2, 1944.
He was a Naval Aviator in the Asian theatre during WWII. After the war, he entered the Veterinary Medicine program at Iowa State University, graduating with honors in 1951. Ken moved to Warren, Illinois in 1953 and began a practice that spanned almost 35 years. Known affectionately as "Doc" to his friends and clients, his compassion, love, and care of God's creatures during his practicing years is legendary.
A farm boy at heart, Ken purchased farmland in Lafayette County and during 40 years of farming, he built a top producing dairy herd, raised beef cows and hogs, raised seed corn for Dekalb, and in later years, raised corn and soybeans.
Ken loved Warren and worked tirelessly to better the village. He spent many years on the town board, some of them as Mayor. As a state delegate to the Republican party, he used his connections to lure business to Warren and secure funds for countless infrastructure improvements.
He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Betty, two sons, Alan (Rosie), Paul (Cindy), four grandchildren, Sara Besch (David), Emily, Jessie, and Tia. He was preceded in death by his father, mother, brother Paul, and two sisters, Marjorie (Agee) and Audrey (Lenhart).
A Memorial service will be held at the Bartell-Leamon Funeral Home in Warren at 11:00 AM, Saturday, April 19, 2014. Visitation will be from 10:00 AM until time of service on Saturday. Pastor Ben Erhets will officiate at the services. A light luncheon will follow at The Olde Hotel in Warren, IL. Friends may send condolences to the family at www.leamonfh.com.
Ken was born August 16th, 1923, to Willard and Viola Dowding, in Jacksonville, Missouri, the youngest of four children. He attended Moberly Junior College where he met his wife and best friend Betty (Nee Carter). They were married on June 2, 1944.
He was a Naval Aviator in the Asian theatre during WWII. After the war, he entered the Veterinary Medicine program at Iowa State University, graduating with honors in 1951. Ken moved to Warren, Illinois in 1953 and began a practice that spanned almost 35 years. Known affectionately as "Doc" to his friends and clients, his compassion, love, and care of God's creatures during his practicing years is legendary.
A farm boy at heart, Ken purchased farmland in Lafayette County and during 40 years of farming, he built a top producing dairy herd, raised beef cows and hogs, raised seed corn for Dekalb, and in later years, raised corn and soybeans.
Ken loved Warren and worked tirelessly to better the village. He spent many years on the town board, some of them as Mayor. As a state delegate to the Republican party, he used his connections to lure business to Warren and secure funds for countless infrastructure improvements.
He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Betty, two sons, Alan (Rosie), Paul (Cindy), four grandchildren, Sara Besch (David), Emily, Jessie, and Tia. He was preceded in death by his father, mother, brother Paul, and two sisters, Marjorie (Agee) and Audrey (Lenhart).
A Memorial service will be held at the Bartell-Leamon Funeral Home in Warren at 11:00 AM, Saturday, April 19, 2014. Visitation will be from 10:00 AM until time of service on Saturday. Pastor Ben Erhets will officiate at the services. A light luncheon will follow at The Olde Hotel in Warren, IL. Friends may send condolences to the family at www.leamonfh.com.