Donna Dowell

Donna Gordon Dowell, 89, a resident of Churubusco, passed away at 6:35 a. m. on Monday, July 18, 2011, at Parkview Whitley Hospital in Columbia City.e She had been a patient at The Oaks in Columbia City, and was taken to the hospital one week ago. Donna was born on September 8, 1921 in Allen County, a daughter of William H. and Myra J. (Worrick) Smith.e She spent her youth in rural Whitley County and graduated from Jefferson Center High School in 1939. On June 7, 1941 she was married to Junior F. Gordon.e She spent the majority of her adult life in Churubusco and had previously been employed at Blue Bell in Columbia City and also at the former Barnhart Drug Store in Churubusco.e She had worked at Magnavox in Fort Wayne for over nine years, retiring from there in 1981. She was a member of the Churubusco Church of the Nazarene, and in her leisure time enjoyed her flower garden, crocheting afghans for her family and enjoyed country music.e Above all else, she loved her family. Mr. Gordon preceded her in death on July 18, 1969.e On April 5, 1970 she was married to Ray W. Dowell.e He died on March 26, 1988. The surviving relatives include her children Stephen W. (Marilyn) Gordon of South Bend and Brenda (Karl) Palmer of Columbia City; two grandchildren Amy (Joe) Leeuw of Churubusco and Jeremy (Jamie) Palmer of Columbia City; and five great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents and two husbands, she was preceded in death by a brother Clyde Smith; and by a sister Betty Schinbeckler. Funeral services will be held at 10 a. m. on Friday, July 22, 2011, at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with Rev. Paul D. White, pastor of Churubusco Church of the Nazarene, officiating. The family will receive friends from 4 to 8 p. m. on Thursday at the mortuary. Interment will be in the Eel River Cemetery, south of Churubusco. For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Churubusco Church of the Nazarene, 1000 W. Whitley St., Churubusco, INe 46723; or to Parkview Home Health & Hospice, 333 N. Oak St., Columbia City, INe 46725 ********************************************