Ralph Walker McDowell II

McDOWELL, RALPH WALKER, II (Age 57)

Conservationist

Of Nokesville, VA died Wednesday, December 29, 2004 at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD of complications from cancer after a four year battle with the disease. Ralph was born in Philadelphia, PA on December 25, 1947. Mr. McDowell graduated with a degree in industrial design from Syracuse University and used his training to design and implement environmental restoration practices throughout the greater Metro area. He retired in the late 1990's from McDowell Associates, Inc., an award-winning erosion control and wetland creation firm he owned and operated for over twenty years. For the past several years, he was a freelance outdoor writer and photographer and also a staff member of two outdoor publications. Mr. McDowell was an active member of numerous wildlife habitat conservation organizations including Ducks Unlimited where he served as Chairman of the Prince William-Manassas Chapter and as a member of the Virginia State Council. He was also a life member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Izaak Walton League and former Chairman of the Board of the Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District. He was preceded in death by his father, Dean Noyes McDowell and his brother, Dean Noyes McDowell, Jr. Survivors include his children, Melanie A. McDowell of Kingston, PA and Charles D. McDowell of Burke, VA; his mother, Mary B. McDowell of Forest City, NC and two sisters, Gail McDowell of Happy Camp, CA and Anne Schafer of Rutherfordton, NC. Family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., Sunday, January 2, 2005 at PRICE FUNERAL HOME, 9609 Center St., Manassas, VA. Funeral Services will be held 11 a.m., Monday, January 3, 2005 at Asbury United Methodist Church, 14113 Fleetwood Dr., Nokesville, VA with Pastor Guy Hamilton, Sr., officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Ducks Unlimited or to Asbury United Methodist Church, PO Box 6, Nokesville, VA 20182 in memory of Ralph W. McDowell. Condolences may be sent to www.pricefh.com.