Robert Dowd

MARION: RObert "Bob" C. Dowd, 93, passed away Monday, October 25, 2010.

Born in Hardin County on March 27, 1917, to Michael T. and Etta (Caulfield) Dowd, he grew up on the family's livestock farm, graduating from Kenton High School and Cincinnati's YMCA Business College. In 1943, he married Ethel (Wax) Dowd and shared a happy marriage for 54 years until Ethel passed away on October 25, 1997. An only brother, Judge Thomas M. Dowd, of Kenton, preceded him in death.

Surviving him are his niece, Lisa Lee, her husband, Bill Lee, and their son, Michael Lee, of Xenia, Ohio; and his sister-in-law, Mary Dowd of Kenton, Ohio.

Living in Kenton most of his early years, he was active in the community in Little Theater and served as president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce and as Grand Knight of Kenton Council of the Knights of Columbus. He and Ethel moved to Marion in 1960 to open an office of a Member Firm of the New York Stock Exchange, where they worked together until retirement. In Marion, Bob was active in the community serving as President of Sales-Ad Club, a Director of Marion Rotary Club, and Trustee of Marion Palace Theatre Endowment Fund. for a number of years he was Trustee of the Marion Catholic High School Endowment Foundation and was a lifetime member of St Mary Church in Marion. A seventy year member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, where he contributed articles of interest in its international magazine, he had a lifetime interest in the art of magic. He enjoyed magic as a hobby, and, in the early years of their marriage, Bob and Ethel also performed professionally throughout northern Ohio. Beyond his magic, Bob had a love and admiration for all performing arts. Still another interest of the couple was travel, and in addition to seeing much of this great country, Bob and Ethel's Travels took them to some twenty foreign countries with destinations as distant as Moscow and St. Petersburg in one direction and Tokyo and Hong Kong in another.

Family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. till 7:00 p.m. Thursday, October 28, 2010 at Gunder/Hall & Folk Funeral Directors 347 W. Center Street Marion, Ohio. A Funeral Mass will Be held Friday, October 29, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary Church in Marion with Father Michael Nimocks officiating. Having made numerous friends throughout his life, his wishes include an invitation to his friends and family to enjoy a luncheon at the May Pavilion of the Palace Theater in Marion at 11:15 immediately following the funeral mass on Friday. All friends and family of Bob are welcome and encouraged to attend this luncheon. Burial will follow at 2:00 p.m. at the St Mary's Cemetery in his home town of Kenton, Ohio. Memorial contributions may be made to the Marion Palace Theatre Endowment Fund or St Mary Church. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.gunderhallandfolk.com