Rufus S. Dowe, Jr., affectionately known as "Rudy", 68. Our beloved Husband, Father, and Grandfather passed away on October 30, 2018.
This Son, Husband, Father, and family man was born in Clifton Forge, Virginia on October 20, 1950. Rudy was the older of two boys born to the union of Rufus S. and Altha Sparrow Dowe. During the early years of Rudy, the family moved to Roanoke, Virginia. He was one of the first African-American middle schoolers to integrate in the Roanoke Public Schools at Monroe Jr. High School in 1962. Those were difficult years for this first class to be accepted in their new role due to discrimination, but he was able to excel through the support and encouragement of his parents. They were both teachers and did not want him to miss this trailblazing opportunity for a bright future. Rudy graduated from William Fleming High School in 1968, where he excelled in academics, tennis, basketball, and football. He was very shy, but had a core group of friends that he has kept throughout the years: John Burwell, Billy Cannaday, and Jerome Crump.
Rudy attended The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio (1968 to 1972). He became an Omega Psi Phi man at Ohio State where he lived the life of the Frat House. He graduated in 1972 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Political Science. At OSU he met his wife, Joslyn T. Dowe and never did they part, enjoying both each other and the college life. Their marriage climaxed at 45 years on September 2, 2018. From this marriage, they had two children, Rufus lll (“Tracy”) and Ashleigh Kristen.
Tracy and Ashleigh have been such loving children and phenomenal adults. The love they have shown for their Father is a testament of unconditional love. Rudy was extremely honored to be Tracy’s Best Man at his wedding. Even through their own rearing of children, marriage, and professional life, Ashleigh and Tracy made sure that someone was on board to help their Mom with Dad. Ashleigh would make time to spend nights with her Dad if Mom needed a cruise with the church family. One time, Tracy was in a golf outing and took his Dad to ride in the cart with him when he could no longer golf because of his health. During that time, Rudy could not resist the urge to hit the golf balls, so Tracy and others in the foursome would let Rudy swing the clubs or take a put whenever he wanted to.
Rudy was a runner, youth sports coach, and basketball/soccer referee in his young adult years. He began his career at Allstate Insurance in Salem, Virginia and was later hired at Norfolk Western Railroad in Roanoke, Virginia, which later merged with The Southern Railroad, now known as Norfolk Southern. Due to poor health, he retired from Norfolk Southern in 2013 with 38 years of service. During his years at Norfolk Southern, he was given recognitions for his customer service and diligence to railway safety. During his retirement, he was able to travel, when in good health, to Europe, Mexico, the Caribbean, Hawaii, and many other states in the U.S. He also received a new passion for golf even though he said it played with his emotions.
At a young age, Rudy accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at Shiloh Baptist Church in Salem, Virginia. As an adult, he was very active at several churches, due to his job transfers to various cities, which included Zion Baptist Church (Cincinnati, OH), Shiloh Baptist Church (Canton, OH), Calvary Chapel (Fort Wayne, IN), Trinity Baptist Church (Pontiac, MI), Olivet Institutional Baptist Church (Cleveland, OH), Hartford Memorial Baptist Church (Detroit, MI), and The House of the Lord (Akron, OH). He was ordained as Deacon at Shiloh Baptist (Canton), Olivet and Hartford. He took his deaconship very seriously and loved visiting the sick and shut in. Other ministries were Male Chorus, Youth Adviser, Deacon in charge of Junior Deacons, and Sunday School teacher. In his last years of life, he was unable to attend church as much as he would have liked to due to his health. He tried to attend The House of the Lord as much as he could, with Joslyn pushing him in his wheelchair. He never minded the state he came in as long as he could hear the Word. His highlight was attending his Sunday School class, The Mighty Men of Valor gatherings and Wednesday night’s “Hour of Power”.
Deacon Dowe will be remembered for his love of the Lord and his family, sharing scriptural knowledge, loving sports, traveling, and most of all his kindness. He would say, “I love my family and extended family, for whom I am so grateful for their unending support and love during my days of illness. Thanks be to God for sending me Joslyn, a true helpmate who never let me quit on living each day with thanksgiving”.
A special thanks to, daughter-in-law, Donna Dowe in helping with caregiving. She often picked up his favorite snacks from the store and would even sit with him to watch “Flash”, a Marvel series on Netflix.
Donna would take him to Tracy and her kids’ games to give Joslyn an always-needed break so he could enjoy watching their hard work.
Rudy’s love for his grandkids: Courtney, Jordi, and Harper, was matchless by far. All three were ready and willing to help “Pops”, as he wanted to be called. And he did call on them a lot! He loved to sit on the front porch and give the older two pointers on their soccer skills of juggling, passing, and kicking the soccer ball. He even trained them on their running technique, with a series of sprints and shuffling between cones, so they could improve on their speed and agility. When Jordi started playing basketball, he loved her shooting style and became fond of the type of player she was becoming. Pops would have devotions and Bible Study with Courtney that Courtney says taught him life skills and how to interact with his peers in a positive way and with people in general. He was amazed to see how two-year-old Harper was learning to swim. She is also a dancer and would try and pull him up to dance with her as she jumped up and down so happily. Pops was so proud of all three of his grandchildren.
Although Deacon Dowe’s father, Rufus Dowe Sr., transitioned 36 years ago, his father’s influence forever guided him in fatherhood, work ethics, and a love for God. He would drive him and his friends to practices and games in the blue Ford Falcon. Rudy would tell of the period of time he was both mother and father. As his mother went to the University of Virginia to study and receive her Masters, Rufus Sr. held down all the family duties, plus his job. Dad Dowe thought he should be the role model for his boys. He would even set up an ironing board and iron his clothes alongside his wife. When Joslyn saw this, she knew Rudy was a keeper! His parents showed him the importance of family by always taking trips to his grandparents to keep the relationships with cousins very strong.
Rudy was preceded in death by his father, Rufus S. Dowe, Sr.; and mother-in-law, Arilene H. Thomas. Leaving to mourn and cherish his memory: his wife, Joslyn; mother, Altha S. Dowe; brother, Michael (Pam) Dowe Sr.; sister, Shirley (Mike) Ward. Also children: Rufus III (“Tracy”) and Donna Dowe; Ashleigh and Ed Brown; Grandchildren: Rufus Dowe IV (“Courtney”), Jordi Dowe, and Harper Brown; Father-in-law, James Thomas Sr.; Brother-in-law, James (Denise) Thomas Jr. Many nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles, first cousins and their families; His extended family through Joslyn, especially Aunt Etha Graves and Aunt Mildred Martin. Rudy had very special friends of over 40 years, Bob and Tina Merriweather, friend of 60 years, John Burwell, and a host of other family and friends.
Acknowledgments
The family of Deacon Rudy Dowe is grateful to the members and the Diaconate of Hartford Memorial Baptist Church for all the get well cards after his departure from Ypsilanti, Michigan in 2013 to the present, due to his health; staff of University Hospitals and Seidman Cancer Center; staff of Palliative and Hospice of the Western Reserve; The members, ministerial staff, especially Pastor Pat Butler and Pastor Herman Matherson of The House of the Lord. We thank YOU who have come to share in this day, and in the days to come, with us. Tracy would like to specifically thank Todd Hurst and Jason Sutton at Wells Fargo for giving him the flexibility to help support and take care of both his Dad and Mom throughout this journey, when they most needed it; and to also his fellow team members for all of their encouraging words and backing. Ashleigh would like to extend many thanks to Marty McCafferty of Constellation Brands for allowing Ashleigh to work at the hospital while she loved on her Dad; and also to the CBI family for their support. The Dowe Family appreciates those who brought food to the home or gave any other expression of kindness such as driving or flying to give us a touch of support.
Services will be held at The House of the Lord, 1650 Diagonal Road, Akron, OH, on Friday, November 9, 2018, Bishop F. Josephus Johnson, II eulogizing, Pastor Daren Brake officiating; calling hours from 2 to 3 p.m., Memorial Service at 3 p.m. Members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. are encouraged to attend a ceremony in Rudy's honor at 1:30 p.m. at The House of the Lord. In lieu of flowers, it is Rudy’s wish that donations be made in his name to either: The Karen E. Mumford Cancer Foundation, 2450 Fairmount Blvd. #M180, Cleveland Heights, OH 44106; OR: The House of the Lord, 1650 Diagonal Road, Akron, OH 44320.
A Note from Rudy:
I wish to have my family and friends to know that I love them and want the best for them. I pray to be forgiven for the times I have hurt my family, friends, or others for I have a spirit of forgiveness towards them. I want you to remember me before I became gravely ill. Please care for Joslyn who will have a void now that I am gone – her life became majorly all about me. It is her time to be free to do and be what she desires. Remember: Don’t cry for me!