Obituary of Beatrice M. Dowell

Beatrice M. Dowell, “Grandma Bea,” 91, passed away Saturday, April 15th at Westview Healthcare Center, Dayville, CT. Born on February 1, 1926 in Lincoln, RI to parents Herbert and Ethel (Barraclough) Whitehead, she attended school in Lincoln and graduated from Kenyon’s Business School in 1944. On June 28, 1947 she married her one true love, George H. Dowell, a WWII USMC veteran. They moved to Putnam, CT where she worked at Belding-Heminway in data processing from that time until they started their family. She was predeceased by her parents and her sister Clara Whitehead and brother J. William Whitehead. She is survived by her husband, George, daughter Linda E. Dowell of Gardiner, ME, daughter Janet (John) Richmond of Woodstock, CT, son Michael (Sandra) Dowell of Monterrey, TX; four granddaughters, Jillian (William) Richmond Petrides, Julia Richmond (Brian Sullivan), Joy Richmond (Jonathan Bergstrom) and Erin Dowell (Thomas John Liddle); as well as great-grandson Benjamin Petrides; brother-in-law William Dowell, nieces Geraldine (Frank) Faber and Patricia (Richard) Merrill, great nieces, great nephew, and great-great nieces and nephew. Bea walked the walk of faith as a living example of Micah 6:8 – acting justly and loving mercy and walking humbly with God. With Bea’s passing, Dad lost his true companion and the family lost its most optimistic and greatest prayer warrior. The family wishes to acknowledge and thank with deepest gratitude Dr. Gerald Sullivan and all the wonderful staff at Westview Healthcare Center. In lieu of flowers the family requests that those so inclined donate blood to their local blood bank. Monetary donations may be made to the Congregational Church of Putnam, P. O. Box 463 Putnam, CT 06260. Funeral Service will be Saturday, May 6, 2017 at 11:00 AM at Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove Street, Putnam, CT. A Calling hour will be from 10:00 to 11:00 AM at the funeral home. Burial at a later date. Funeral arrangements entrusted to Smith and Walker Funeral Home, share a memory at www.smithandwalkerfh.com