Ralph Dowdy

1925 - 2016

NEW ALBANY - William Ralph Dowdy, 90, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Wednesday, January 13, 2016, at Pontotoc Health and Rehab. He was born July 11, 1925, to William Steve and Lola Robbins Dowdy of the Shady Grove Community on the Union/Pontotoc County line, the youngest child of twelve siblings. Born again at the age of 38, he did not go to work the day following his salvation experience. Instead, he chose to spend the day at the Dowdys' Country Store sharing his testimony about the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
He will best be remembered as a true and loyal friend that stood by you regardless of the circumstance. A prankster and a jokester, he loved life and touched the lives of so many, particularly young people. He was a retired farmer and bus driver. He coached young boys in baseball before there were organized little leagues in the area. He loaded his teams in the back of his pickup truck and carried them across Union and Pontotoc counties to play baseball, often paying game expenses out of his own pocket. Papa was his two grandsons' biggest fan, watching them play little league, high school, American Legion, and college baseball. His granddaugter simple stole his heart the day she was born. His favorite pasttime was training and running his Walker foxhounds. A member of the Pontotoc County Foxhunters Association, he had a network of hunting buddies across north Mississippi, winning numerous field trials with his prize hounds.
Services will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 16, 2016, at Martin Baptist Church with Bro. Randy Bostwick, Bro. Mike Johnson, and Bro. Andy Russell officiating. Burial will be in the Shady Grove Cemetery with United Funeral Service in charge of arrangements.
He is survived by his wife of 72 years, O.D. Kirk Dowdy, whom he married on August 7,1943; his son, Sam Dowdy, and his wife Linda (whom Pop loved as the daughter he never had); his grandchildren, Shannon Rives, her husband Mike, and their children: Rebecca, Rex, Nolan, and Brody; two grandsons, Stephen Dowdy, his wife Jennifer, and their children: Braxton and Addy; Josh Dowdy, his wife Ashley, and their son, Lyge.
In addition to his parents he was proceded in death by seven brothers: Ebb, Dewey, Otis, Ernest, Lavell, Lowell, and Raymond; and four sisters: Norene, Annie, Ada Dowdy Coker, and Lucille Hardin Kidd.
Pallbearers will be James Green and members of Ralph's 1974 undefeated baseball team: Gary Browning, Mike Browning, Jeff Dowdy, Kenny Dowdy, Frank Dorrough, Ronnie Hall, Tom Hill, Barry Kidd, Steve Manning, Eddie Swords, Jerry Wilhite, and Ronnie Wilhite.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today, January 15, 2016, at United Funeral Service in New Albany and from 10 until 11 a.m. Saturday, January 16, 2016, at Martin Baptist Church prior to the service.
For online condolences and guest registry, visit www.unitedfuneralservice.com.