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William McDowell Obituary
Newton
William Norwood McDowell, 74, died Sunday, Sept. 25, 2011 at his residence in Newton.
Born January 10, 1937 in Screven Co. GA., he was the son of the late Harold C. McDowell and Janie Best McDowell.
He worked for 40 years as a manager at Boise Cascade making corrugated containers. He belonged to a Mason's Lodge in Tennessee. He grew up in Georgia, joined the Air Force, loved taking trips on his Harley, as well as the many friends he made on his many journeys including circling North America on his bike. Bill liked to hunt, enjoyed visiting his family in Georgia, and could fix anything. He was a "jack of all trades" and was passionate about his family, especially the grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Francis McDowell; sister, Mary Polk; and brother-in-laws, Clyde Polk and Willie Dean Waters.
He is survived by his son, Michael "Norwood" McDowell and wife, Tracey of Raleigh; daughter, Cherie Turney and husband, Michael of Newton; brother, Linward McDowell and wife, Carolyn of Milan, GA; sisters, Dorothy Waters of Sylvania, GA, Betty Mock and husband, Walter of Sylvania, GA; grandchildren, John William Turney, David "Carter" McDowell, and William "Walker" McDowell; former wife, and friend, Peggy Hicks McDowell. A memorial service will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 29, 2011 at Willis-Reynolds Funeral Home in Newton. Chaplin Lester Waters will officiate.
The family will receive friends from 2:00 to 3:45 p.m. on Thursday at Willis-Reynolds Funeral Home.
Memorials can be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, 26 Broadway, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10004.
Condolences may be sent to the McDowell family at www.drumfuneralhome.com
The McDowell family has entrusted funeral arrangements to Willis-Reynolds Funeral Home & Crematory in Newton, NC.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for William McDowell
cherie turney
October 3, 2011
The family of Wild Bill wishes to thanks everyone who has honored him by leaving a message. He is sorely missed by all
Georgann Smith
September 30, 2011
He always had a smile when you said hello to him and always nice words. May you ride free and peaceful in the heavens on your harley, Bill. It was a pleasure knowing you. RIP
Donna Hartley
September 30, 2011
You will be greatly missed. This world was a better place with you in it. Prayers for the family.
Laura Martin
September 29, 2011
Wild Bill was a great man! Always smiling and had the best attitude! He truely enjoyed life! The world could use more Wild Bills! He will be missed. Prayers go out to the family.
Betty & Bonnie Mock
September 29, 2011
We have lost a good Brother and Uncle.
We will miss him coming to Sylvania.
September 29, 2011
A true gentlemen and soul of an angel. It has been our pleasure and honor to have known you. You will always stand out in our hearts! What a wonderful person this world has lost....
Dana Helms
September 29, 2011
Just seeing the picture of your smiling face brings a smile to my mine. Such a great man and honored to have met and shared wonderful conversations and stories with him.
Paulette Mojica
September 28, 2011
Will miss you Wild Bill...What a joy it was to call you my friend.
September 28, 2011
Wild Bill you were a wonderful person, who loved your family and friends. You were a great friend to me. You will truly be missed. RIP.
Lynne Penley, Claremont, NC
Bryan Caldwell
September 28, 2011
A true biker gentleman.glad i could call him my friend.ride safe wild bill RIP
Bill and Brenda Novotny
September 28, 2011
One of the most passionate lovers of life that my family and I have ever met. God bless his family and friends at this time. He lived a very happy life.
Brenda and Bill Novotny
Grady Dew
September 28, 2011
What words we cannot express enough, But only in our prayers that we can. We will always and forever remember your sweet kindness you gave to everyone you met, Including strangers that were not, (when you spoke to them) We will miss you always! And we want to send our deepest condolences to Bills family. He will be truly missed but NEVER FORGOTTEN.
Grady & Tamara Dew
tammy lefevers
September 28, 2011
We will miss u wild bill!!!
Like so many others You may be gone...But you will never be forgotten...
Me, Wild Bill, and Michelle
April Williams
September 28, 2011
Wild Bill was a kind, gentle, and loving man. He always greeted me with open arms and a sweet smile… we would sit and talk and laugh for hours. I’ll miss our conversations… he spoke a lot of his family, especially his grandchildren. He loved to tell jokes… he would tell us his jokes and he would just laugh and give everybody sitting at the table a “high-five”… we shared a lot of good times and a lot of laughs. My heart smiles when I think about Wild Bill, he was such a wonderful person and I am honored and privileged to call him my friend.
My thoughts & prayers are with his family during this difficult time… although it’s difficult today to see beyond the sorrow, may looking back in memory help comfort you tomorrow. God Bless you all.
Anne Spencer
September 28, 2011
Our community has lost a kind, caring & wonderful man. Thoughts & Prayers go out to all the family. I feel Blessed to have known him, he makes me want to be a better person!!
cindy Auton
September 28, 2011
,he most definitly was!!A treasure of a man!God Bless you all and comfort you is my prayer....Cindy Roxanne!
Janette Laws
September 28, 2011
So sorry to hear about your loss you all will be in my prayers.
Tracy Coffey
September 28, 2011
To the Family of Bill, you all know what a treasure he was, you were blessed to have him as your son, brother, uncle, father & grandfather; we all were blessed to be able to call him a Friend. He was always a true gentleman every single time you saw him. It was very clear to see people loved him & he loved people right back...God did truly gain one of his best Angles back home on Sunday.
Thank you Bill for showing us all what people should only hope to be in this life.. & what one great person's example can do for all who knew him...!!! Hugs until we meet again my Friend..;)
Sincerely, Tracy Coffey
Teena Price
September 28, 2011
I am deeply sorry for you loss. Wild Bill was a kind person I don't think he ever met a stranger. He always spoke. I know that he has gone to heaven with a Harley waiting on him so he can travel heaven's highways. God Bless you Will Bill, may we meet again. God Bless The Family.
Greg Parsons
September 28, 2011
To Bill's family , my deepest condolances. I knew Bill for about 8 years, never seen him mad or in a bad mood, he always took the time to talk to anyone that wanted to talk to him. I dont think Ive never met a kinder person. He will be in my heart forever, Fly with the Angels my friend .... God speed.
Miss Roscoe
September 28, 2011
"Cruising Through The Light"
Here with full dress Harley
I am angel in the sky
Every day I get on bike
Need no wings to fly.
My Harley takes me anywhere
That I need to go
I rev it up and watch out
Cause this angel's gonna flow.
I am angel of the Harley
My reputation grows
I ride around on the clouds
My purpose you should know.
To kick up dust in heaven
Just let my spirit show
My gift to you is gentle winds
Skies of pastels glow.
I give to you this beauty
My purpose in this flight
An ANGEL on a harley
Cruising through the light!!!!
Rest In Peace My Friend!
Lisa Blackwell
September 28, 2011
To the family of William I am so sorry for your loss. I only knew him as "Wild Bill", one of the sweetest,kindest people you would ever want to know. This is one man that I know is happy and in Heaven! God Bless you Wild Bill!
Tricia Hedrick
September 28, 2011
Wild Bill was an amazing person. One of a kind! Never met a stranger. My friends and I met him at Iron Thunders years ago and never forgot him. You will be missed.
September 27, 2011
To Sherrie and Michael, I had the honor and privilege of working in the box business for almost 30 years with your father and can attest that he was a huge part of our success for all those years. He was hard working, dedicated, loyal,fair and honest. These are not empty words; they describe what Bill stood for and the values that guided his professional career and his personal life. He was truly our "go-to-guy " when we had to make things happen. I will remember his as a good and decent man who I was very fortunate to have known . Jerry P Thomas, Gastonia NC
September 27, 2011
Wild Bill my HERO&mentor for life will keep all the good times we shared locked in my memories until we meet again-a true inspiration to us all ! lots of luv Billie Walker
Rick & Diann Wilson
September 27, 2011
Wild Bill always had a smile on his face and a kind word for everyone he met. He will live on in the hearts of those who knew him for he truely brought out the best in everyone. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Wild Bill. You will always be a part of us. Thanks for the memories. We love you Wild Bill. Riding Heaven's Highway.
Paulette & Matt Weaver
September 27, 2011
Wild Bill, One of a kind. The mold was broke when God created this MAN. His hugs was the sweetest hugs. He helped me thru loosing my grandbaby to Leukemia and let me cry on his shoulder and totally understood. He helped me & matt when we lost Mark. Now they can ride together forever. We had so many good times, there was NO bad times with Wild Bill. He was such a loved person by men and women, he will be greatly missed but heavens gain. Thoughts & Prayers with his family!!! Such a special MAN. Ride on Bill..we will love you forever and NEVER forget YOU!!!
Vicki
September 27, 2011
We all have wonderful memories of Wild Bill.He could make you smile no matter what mood you were in. All the ladies loved him and he NEVER had to hunt a dance partner..lol. we all stood inline for Bill lol.
Rest in Peace Wild Bill, u will live on forever in our hearts
Brenda McCaslin
September 27, 2011
WILD BILL~ A TRUE GENTLEMEN!! ONE OF A KIND!! GENEROUS! LOVING! CARING! FORGIVING! PATIENT! A GREAT LISTENER! A TRUE FRIEND! SIMPLY THE BEST!!! <3 Our thoughts & prayers are with the family! (Brenda~Newton NC)
September 27, 2011
I will really miss you was special to me. We had some good times. Guess and Willie are together.
Your Sister Dorothy
Todd Bolick
September 27, 2011
Wild Bill we will all miss you bro ! I will never forget our talks away from the crowd. Ride free now my friend !
TOAD
Tina Huggins
September 27, 2011
I am sorry for his family loss!! Wild Bill was a sweetheart and the kinda person I always went over to when I saw him out to say Hi and give him a hug! And while I never got a chance to take him up on it he was one of the few people when I first started riding that gave me his number and told me to call if I ever needed someone else to ride at the same time! Our loss is Heaven's gain! RIP Wild Bill
PS I'm adding a pic of my friend who introduced us Lisa with Wild Bill.
Helen Bowman
September 27, 2011
Wild Bill was a man among men, a true gentleman, mentor, friend and character. He never spoke ill of anyone and always had a hug and smile for everyone. My heart aches at the loss of such a wonderful man and my prayers go out to his family in this time of sorrow. He is now dancing with the angels and those who knew him knew he LOVED to dance!! Prayers and condolences to his family. Helen
September 27, 2011
You were one of a kind. Someone who is hard to find these days "a true Friend"
With the wings of an angel "Ride On"!
You will always be in our hearts.
Thunder & Lightnin
Cheri Jones
September 27, 2011
Wild Bill was alway's a joy to be around. He will truly be missed. I never saw him but what he spoke to me and gave me hug. I am so sorry for your lost. Wild Bill was a great Man Heaven has gained a great Angel.
Cheri Jones
Wild Bill & Me Summer 2011
Jamie Lee
September 27, 2011
Cherie & Famiy....your dad was one of a kind. He touched so many lives...he was always happy, smiling, and ready for "hugs"...I will miss him so much! With deepest sympathies, Jamie Lee
Tricia Widener
September 27, 2011
I will truely miss Wild Bill, He always made me smile and laugh, He was such a great man and will be loved and missed by so many.. Prayers are with his family...
Lisa Stone
September 27, 2011
No words can express the sorrow I feel. Wild Bill was a great man and loved so much by so many. I have known him for years. I will always cherish the friendship he and I shared. Kisses my friend!! Ride on brother!
Mrs. Darrell Wycoff
September 27, 2011
My husband and I wish to express our sincere condolences to Bill's family for his loss. My husband had traveled with Bill and and few others occasionally, and Bill would frequently join my husband and I on Mondays at dinner at a local restaurant. He was always a joy! He often shared his adventures with us of when he was in the military; or "harass" me about going to shoot Bambi's mother (hunting, a hobby he seemed to enjoy and he knew I didn't); of his life when he lived in Memphis or some other part of the country; or of his childhood and family in Savannah. Bill was informed on current events, be it political or business and he was wise in ways that one only gets from what is learned in life. He often had to stop his conversation to greet a friend (which he had many) as they passed, or as they came up to him to greet him. At times he wouldn't sit with us for very long. He would say he had to get home. He was providing care for his grandson in the morning and would speak proudly of him. It was clear his was a dedicated and was proud of his family. Bill was generous. He would occassionaly bring us, or someone else he knew, produce from his garden and he was concerned for others. We will miss Bill and will always appreciate him for the person he was, kind, generous, sincere and friendly. Life doesn't make them like Bill anymore. There was once a "panhandler" who came up to us, telling a sad tale for money. Most ignored him, but Bill gave him the money. He said he didn't know if his story was true but if a lie, it would be on the other fellow, not him ( Bill). That was an example of his kindness and Bill's character. He will truly be missed by many. With Sincere Sympathy, Mr. and Mrs. Darrell Wycoff
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