Vernon Russell McDowell

McDOWELL Vernon Russell McDowell, 82, of Richmond, passed away peacefully at Memorial Regional Medical Center on January 2, 2007. He was an Army veteran, having served as a sergeant in the motor pool at Fort Lee during WWII. He was the owner and operator of McDowell's Service Station on Government Rd. for over 20 years. He retired after 38 years of service from Yellow Freight Lines, where he won the truck rodeo in 1951, and he was currently working at Virginia Truck Center. Vern was always kind and generous and was one who never met a stranger. He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Virginia Glass McDowell; daughters, Linda McDowell Steger and her husband, David of Atlanta, Ga. and Brenda McDowell Habel of Richmond; brother, David McDowell; sister, Mary Horn and her husband, James, all of Missouri; and numerous nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Nelsen Funeral Home, 4650 S. Laburnum Ave. Graveside funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Thursday, January 4 at Washington Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributions to the Henrico Volunteer Rescue Squad or the American Heart Association.