Ann McDowell

September 8, 2012

Ann McDowell, born Anne Josephine Halberstadt, died peacefully on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, at Schuylkill Medical Center-East Norwegian Street in her hometown of Pottsville, Pa. She did not recover from a stroke she suffered two weeks earlier. She was 91.

Ann was born Dec. 26, 1920, in Pottsville to Baird (1860-1934) and Ida Ray (Smith; 1880-1957) Halberstadt. She graduated Pottsville High School in 1937 and with a major in English from the Pennsylvania State University in 1941.

On June 17, 1944, she married U.S. Navy Lt. George Lewis McDowell (1919-80) of Rock Hill, S.C., at her home on 18th Street in Pottsville.

Ann had one sibling, older brother Leslie Richards Halberstadt (1919-80), who proudly served as best man at her wedding. Ann and George had two sons, George Lewis Jr. (born 1949) and Richard Lesley (1952- 95).

At Penn State, Ann joined Kappa Kappa Gamma and remained a lifelong active member of the group's social and philanthropic alumna association. During WWII, Ann worked at the Glenn L. Martin Aviation Company in Baltimore and for United Airlines in Miami. Later, she was the director of the Maryland region of the American Lung Association's Christmas Seals program and the Coordinator of Volunteer Services for Baltimore City hospitals.

Ann was resilient and beat colon cancer in 1976. After her retirement she traveled extensively, enjoying life aboard cruise ships. She also spent many winters in Hawaii with friends and later divided her time between Pottsville and the home of her companion, Graham Robertson, in Sydney, Australia. She was a member of the Philanthropic Club of Pottsville and the Schuylkill Health Auxiliary, a volunteer at Hillside SPCA and often donated time to the Schuylkill County Historical Society, an organization founded by her father.

Ann was a highly skilled conversationalist. Many remember, and will deeply miss, discussions including Ann that ranged from serious to hilarious, and which were characterized by good fellowship, mutual respect and the open exchange of ideas.

Ann is survived by her elder son, George and his wife, Geraldine McDowell, Cary, N.C.; by cousins. Mrs. Jill (Miller) Salmon and Dr. Paul Miller, both of Pottsville; and by many dear and cherished friends throughout the world who enriched her life beyond measure.

Ann's funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, September 13th by Pastor Bradley A. Schutt at the First United Methodist Church, 330 W. Market St., Pottsville, the parish in which she was baptized in 1921. A reception will follow the service in the church's Fellowship Hall. Her cremated remains will be interred next to those of her husband and her son, Richard, in Moreland Memorial Park Cemetery in Baltimore County, Maryland. The family would prefer remembrances in the form of contributions made to Hillside SPCA, P.O. Box 233, Pottsville PA 17901. James E. Humphrey Funeral Home, Pottsville, is in charge of arrangements. Condolences to Ann's family can be left by signing the guest book at www.jehumphreyfuneralhome.com

Life is real! Life is earnest!

And the grave is not its goal.

"Dust thou art, to dust returnest,"

Was not spoken of the soul.



Lives of great ones all remind us

We can make our lives sublime,

And, departing, leave behind us

Footprints on the sands of time.

— (H.W. Longfellow: "A Psalm of Life," verses two and seven)