James Ross Dowler, 89 of Kingwood, died February 18, 2015, following heart failure at his home in Kingwood, Texas. A memorial service was held for him on March 6, 2015 at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Houston, Texas. He is predeceased by his wife of 51 years, Helen Jean Dowler and is survived by his son, Ross M. Dowler and his wife Lynette; a grandson, James R. Dowler II, and a granddaughter, Catherine Jean Dowler of Kingwood. Jim was a Kingwood resident for more than 37 years. As a boy, Jim always knew he wanted to be a writer. Born April 19, 1925 in Royal Ill., he attended elementary and high schools in Charleston, Ill., worked as a newspaper reporter for the Charleston Courier and won the Illinois State Speech tournament during his senior year. Following graduation in 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet program. He earned his wings and flight officer's commission in December 1944 and became a bomber pilot skilled at flying B24, B25 and C47 aircraft, eventually achieving the rank of Major prior to joining the Air Force Retired Reserve. Following World War II, he attended the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, and graduated in 1949 with a Master of Science degree in journalism. In 1950, he married Helen Jean and they moved to Brighton, Colo., where Jim was owner/publisher of a weekly newspaper. Jim was recalled to the Air Force during the Korean War, and started work on the first of four novels he eventually published, Partners Choice. Over the years he also published Fiddlefoot Fugitive, Laredo Lawman and The Copperhead Colonel. After Jim returned to civilian life following the Korean War, he and Helen Jean moved to the New York City metropolitan area, where Jim worked in advertising for Shell Chemical Company. He made significant contributions to many noted advertising campaigns for Shell which included Shell's Wonderful World of Golf, The No Pest Strip and The Shell Answer Man. Their son Ross was born in 1958 in Stamford, Conn., and he became a loving, devoted father. With Shell, the family moved to Atlanta, GA.; San Ramon, Calif.; and Houston, settling in Kingwood in 1977. After retiring from Shell in 1986, Jim founded J.R. Dowler and Associates Corporation which specialized in advertising consulting and travel incentive program development. He was actively involved in the Shell Retiree network and enjoyed spending time with Ross, Lynn and his grandchildren. Donations are being accepted in his memory by: Humble Area Assistance Ministries, P.O. Box 14051, Humble, TX 77347. Checks submitted for donations should be identified with the statement: "Donation for James R. Dowler."
*Corrected Obituary*
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1 Entry
Polly McDonald (Gregory)
March 20, 2015
Mr. Dowler was a great neighbor to us for many years. I remember his son and his friends helping us move into our house in Kingwood when I was a little girl. My sympathies and prayers to his family and friends.
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