David Randall McDowell

GERMANTOWN — David Randall McDowell, a retired educator and loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend died on March 26, 2025, after battling melanoma. He was 76.

He was born March 23, 1949, to parents David Carlie and Aldeen Cooper McDowell who preceded him in death along with his older sister, Teresia McDowell Stafford.

He married the love of his life, Carla (McCormick) McDowell, on Jan. 8, 1972. Together, they raised four beautiful children in Maysville and Germantown and share nine grandchildren.

David graduated from Morehead State University with a bachelor's degree in Biology and Earth Sciences and a Master's degree in Education and Administration. He had a lifelong passion for learning, teaching at Maysville High School, Mason County High School, and serving as an Assistant Principal at Straub Elementary, Mason County Middle School, and Mason County High School.

David took a group of middle school students to Europe, where he was inspired to work at Live Oaks in Sharonville, Ohio, mentoring struggling students for nearly a decade.

After retirement, he ran the farm full-time, raising cattle, hay, and keeping up the garden. David and his wife of 53 years, Carla McDowell, ran and operated the family business, McDowell Farms Salsa from 2004-2024. He was also proud to serve as President of the Maple Grove Cemetary Board for several years, and was a member of Germantown Baptist Church.

He is survived by wife Carla McDowell; siblings Denny, Doug, Dwayne, and Dale McDowell, and Tammy Bowen; children David Brian (Brianne) McDowell, Chad (Marlena) McDowell, Lorri (Jon) Nash, and Morri Denham; grandchildren Maddy, Kendra, Jake, Bailey, Braden, Carly, Luke, Jackson and Maxwell.

In David's own words, the best job he ever had was being a papaw.

Funeral will be 2 p.m. on Friday, March 28, at Palmer Funeral Home in Germantown. Burial will be at Maple Grove Cemetery in Germantown.

Visitation will be 11-2 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to Maple Grove Cemetery c/o Carol Davis P.O. Box 3 Germantown, KY 41044.

Condolences may be sent to PalmerFh.com