Murvyn Morgan McDowell

Murvyn Morgan McDowell of Fairmont, West Virginia passed away peacefully at his home on July 20, 2025. He was 91 years old.

Murv was born in Rachel, West Virginia on March 24, 1934. He was the youngest of Samuel and Gwenvyl McDowell's six children. He grew up on Plum Run near Farmington. Murv graduated from Farmington High School in 1952 and graduated from West Virginia University in 1956 with a bachelor's degree in physics. Shortly after graduating from WVU, Murv married the love of his life, Emily Ann Snider of Hundred, West Virginia. Their loving marriage lasted for more than 67 years until Emily's death in 2023.

Murv and Emily relocated to Fort Worth, Texas in the fall of 1956 where Murv began his career as an engineer in the aircraft industry. They lived in Texas for five years. Their two children, Lea and Thomas, were born during this time. In 1961 the McDowell family moved to Indianapolis, Indiana where Murv continued his engineering career designing components of jet aircraft engines. A few years later, he was recruited by Ford Motor Company where he switched his engineering focus from airplanes to automobiles. He was on the design team of the Ford Mustang.

Around 1970, Murv left Ford Motor Company and established his own engineering firm, Industrial Dynamics Corporation. After his company secured a firm footing, he decided to return to his roots in West Virginia. He started his first West Virginia corporation, Total Measurement, Inc. of Fairmont in 1972. Emily and the kids followed him to Fairmont in the summer of 1973.

TMI would be the first of several successful businesses that Murv help launch in Fairmont. The list includes Titan Electric Corp, Marada Corp, and TMC Technologies, Inc. Murv was also heavily involved with Marion County Adult and Community Education programs where he taught and expanded curricula in industrial electricity, integrated manufacturing, computer automation, robotics, and other associated programs. Murvyn's successes and contributions to the Marion County business community were recognized by the Marion County Chamber of Commerce in 2024 when he was awarded the Donal M. Squires Lifetime Achievement Award.

Murv and Emily were avid fans and supporters of West Virginia University athletics. They had season tickets and helped fund scholarships for football, men's and women's basketball, and baseball for decades. Their blue and gold Mountaineer Tailgaters van was a fixture in the Light Blue lot on football Saturdays. They also helped fund scholarships for Fairmont State University football and men's and women's basketball teams.

Murv and Emily enjoyed travelling extensively and took many trips across the United States and abroad. Murv was extremely well-read; he finished one or two books per week. His favorite subject was U.S. military history-particularly WWI and WWII-as many of his family members fought in those wars.

In addition to his wife, Emily, Murv was predeceased by his brothers Samuel, Eurfryn, Gildas, and John, and by his sister, Margaret. Murv was also predeceased by his daughter-in-law, Sherry Vincent McDowell. He is survived by his daughter, Lea McDowell Cloyd (Jimmy) of South Carolina, and his son, Thomas Wayne McDowell of Fairmont.

In keeping with Murv's wishes, no services are planned. Murvyn was a great lover of dogs. Memorial donations could be made to the Humane Society of Harrison County, where many of his canine family members were adopted (or to the animal shelter of your choice).