Keith E Dowler

Age 80, passed away Saturday, December 13, 2014. The youngest of three children, he was born in Las Vegas, NM to Keith B. and Doris (Hart) Dowler. He was preceded in death by his parents. Keith is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Consuelo; son, Ron and wife Debora and grandsons, Charlie of Rio Rancho, NM, Joe and great-grandson, Thomas of Hubert, NC; daughter, Susan and husband John Fullinwider and grandchildren, Paul and Katie of Rio Rancho, NM; two sisters, Mary Jane Miller of TX, Phyllis Dowler of Albuquerque, NM; sister's-in-law, Virginia Wildenstein of Colorado Springs, CO, Peggy Wright of Albuquerque, NM, Grace Mammina and husband Ben of St. Joseph, MI; numerous nieces and nephews.
Keith graduated from Las Vegas High School and began working for the AT&SF Rail Road in Las Vegas, The Charles Ilfeld Co., and ACF Industries in Albuquerque. He graduated from New Mexico Tech in Socorro, NM, receiving a degree in Metallurgical Engineering. In 1965 he established a Metallurgy Lab at Fairbanks-Morse Research Center in Beloit, WI. Upon returning to New Mexico in 1979, he was employed at the Los Alamos National Laboratory as Group Leader in the MST Division and retired to Rio Rancho in 1994.
He and Consuelo enjoyed traveling, playing golf, camping and dancing. Keith was considered to be a "Renaissance Man" with the many talents and diverse interests he had. Besides producing the most tasty Biscochitos in New Mexico, his homemade breads, beef jerky and wine were always a special treat. His other areas of expertise included leather tooling, carpentry, gardening and painting. He was member of the New Mexico Mountain Man Brigade where he competed with muzzle loader black powder guns, some of which he built. He was assigned to portray the role as "Parson Dowler" by the Mountain Man group where he was called upon to perform wedding ceremonies at camp and other parson related duties. Keith was the "life of the party" and you could always count on there being music, dancing, laughter and teasing when he was present. He never met a stranger always bringing out the best in everyone with his outgoing personality, smile and humor.
Cremation has taken place. A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00pm, Thursday, December 18, 2014 at Daniels Family Funeral Services, Sara Chapel, 4310 Sara Road SE, Rio Rancho, NM. In lieu of flowers donations may be given in Keith 's honor to the Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org or 505-266-4473 at 9500 Montgomery Boulevard NE, #121, Albuquerque, NM 87111 or the charity of your choice. To view information or leave a condolence please visit www.danielsfuneral.com
Daniels Family Funeral Services
4310 Sara Road SE
Rio Rancho, NM 87124
505-892-9920