Dr. Dowell, a native of Rock Island, Ill., was born March 9, 1935. She moved to Tracy in 1946 and attended West Park and Tracy High schools, graduating in 1954.
He served eight years in the California National Guard and then worked for Southern Pacific Railroad in Tracy and Clover Oil Co. After completing chiropractic school in Iowa, he established a practice in Manteca that he operated for 42 years. He served in several regional and statewide offices in his field.
Dr. Dowell was named “Doctor of the Year” of Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties in 1990. He joined Tracy Elks Lodge in 2003.
Survivors include his wife, Jeanette Tillman Dowell of Manteca; children, Darren Dowell and Desiree Dowell Hoogendoorn, both of Manteca; a brother, James Max “Jim” Dowell of Spring Valley; a sister, Carol Maleese Thomas Coyle of Phoenix; and five grandchildren.
His parents, Jesse Max Dowell and Elouise Arnold Dowell, preceded him in death.
Thursday’s celebration of life will begin at 10:30 a.m. at Northgate Community Church, 650 Northgate Drive, in Manteca.