David McDowell

David McDowell 9/20/1918 - 6/3/2011 Juile McDowell 7/26/1914 - 11/4/2005 Master Pipe Organ Builder, born September 20, 1918, passed away unexpectedly Friday, June 3, 2011, of heart failure. He was raised in Tucson and Cripple Creek, Colorado. David lived in Catalina for the last 30 years. As a young man, he was introduced to organ building by his grandfather, James Laird McDowell, but it was through his apprenticeship with the Kimball Organ Company in 1934 where he became qualified as a Master Pipe Oran builder. David completed his first organ on his own on February 22, 1935 and went on to build organs throughout the West. His organs can be found in churches, synagogues, and universities, including the University of Arizona, for which he built two. In Tucson alone he built or rebuilt more than 60 organs, including those at St. Augustine Cathedral, St. Phillip's in the Hills Episcopal Church, Redeemer Lutheran Church, Trinity Presbyterian Church, and Northminster Presbyterian Church. He attended the University of Arizona, studying Botany and Music, but felt that organ building was his true calling. David proudly served in the Army during World War II and then returned to Tucson where he met and married Julie, the love of his life, in September 1949. He continued to build pipe organs and worked for the US Post office until he retired in 1976. He was preceded in death by Julie in November 2005. He is survived by daughters, Ann Mercer of Portland, Oregon, and Jane Bacarella (Jay) of Chandler, and granddaughter, Stephanie Mercer. The Southern Arizona Chapter of the American Guild of Organists will be honoring David with a Memorial program on Sunday, September 18, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 400 E. University Boulevard. Included in the program will be the premier of an organ work composed by Allen Schultz and dedicated to David. The Family requests that donations be made in the name of David and Julie to the Michael J. For Parkinson Foundation or the Brian Grant Foundation. Arrangements by NEPTUNE SOCITY.