Benjamin Dan Dowis

Benjamin Dan Dowis, 82, of 14 Sandon Drive, Asheville, died Tuesday, June 14, 2005, at the Hospice Solace Center. Mr. Dowis was born in Lavonia, GA, and was a son of the late John Young Dowis and Mattie Margaret Whitworth Dowis. He was preceded in death by his wife, Louise Brown Dowis, who died in 1988. Mr. Dowis was an Army veteran of WW II and retired with 32 1/2 years of federal service, having worked with the Navy Yard, Army, Forest Service, Post Office and Weather Records. He was a member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. Surviving are his daughter, Joan Dowis Justice and her husband Doug of Greensboro; his son, John W. Dowis and his wife Anne of Mooresville; his granddaughter, Katherine L. (Kathy) Justice; his dearest friend, Mary Giles; three nieces, Edie Burgin and her husband Sam of Wagram, Pat Stillwell and her husband Butch of Candler, and Betsy Silver and her husband Dennis of Asheville; four nephews, Robert H. (Bob) Dowis and his wife Stella of Wilmington, Charles Dowis and his wife Gail of Charlotte, Joe Shirley and his wife Geneva of Lavonia, GA and Fred Shirley of Royston, GA, and several great-nieces and nephews and cousins. A graveside service will be conducted by the Rev. Harry L. “Skipper” Watwood and Chaplain Butch Stillwell at 11:00 a.m. Thursday at Green Hills Cemetery. His family will receive friends from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue. Memorials may be made to St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 223 Hillside Street, Asheville, NC 28801, or to one’s favorite charity.