Bobby Dowdy

Bobby Donal Dowdy passed from this life on Sunday, August 17, 2025, at the age of 91. Bob was born March 21, 1934, at Bristow, Oklahoma. He was the youngest of six siblings born to Frank Wiley Dowdy and Hester Mae Foster Dowdy. He grew up on the family farm and attended school in the Iron Post community, then transferred to Bristow High School. He was active, participating in football, wrestling, and track and was a class officer. Bob also worked part time after school and for his uncle's dairy farm in Colorado during the summers. He graduated from BHS in May 1953.

In September 1953, Bob joined the United States Marine Corps, serving his country proudly during the Korean War in a light machine platoon. While in the Corps, Bob was recognized for his outstanding sharpshooting abilities and was honorably discharged at Camp Pendleton, California with the rank of Sergeant on September 8, 1956.

Using his G.I. Bill, Bob then returned to Oklahoma, enrolling in classes at then Central State College in Edmond, later transferring to Northeastern State University in Tahlequah. As he attended college, he also worked as a truck driver, pipeliner, oil field employee, and sign painter throughout Oklahoma, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

It was while he was attending NSU that he met and married the love of his life, Jane Carolyn Lawley who grew up in Cookson, Oklahoma. They were united in marriage on August 4, 1962 and were married for 49 years until her passing on February 6, 2012. He received his B.A. in Education in December 1962. After graduating, he and Carolyn accepted employment with the Gallup McKinley County School District in Gallup, New Mexico as teachers in the community of Tohatchi, New Mexico on the Navajo Reservation.

Bob continued to work on his graduate degree by completing classes both at Oklahoma State University and Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona, earning his Master's Degree in Education in 1965, and later his superintendent's certification. After three years of teaching high school in Tohatchi, he became the principal of the newly constructed Tohatchi Junior and Senior High School, a position he held until May 1973 when the family relocated to Cleveland, Oklahoma where he became first the principal of Cleveland Junior High School, then principal of Cleveland High School, and finally finishing his career as the Assistant Superintendent of Cleveland Schools retiring in August 1998. Bob was the second longest serving administrator in the history of Cleveland Public Schools.

It was of utmost importance to Bob that people knew that he was a faithful Christian. He grew up in a loving Christian home and he accepted Christ as his personal savior in November 1964. He is a longtime member of First Baptist Church, serving in different positions within the church at various times. He was ordained as a deacon for FBC in 1984 and he was also an active member of Gideon International for 20 years. He loved his church and his church family. After Carolyn's death, Bob married Brenda Ponder on September 3, 2013. Brenda and Bob were old friends and fellow teaching colleagues and had known each other for 42 years. Brenda and Bob were very happy together and loved each other very much. They enjoyed traveling together to the desert Southwest yearly during the spring and fall months. Bob always was thankful for the two loving Christian wives God had blessed him with during his life's journey. He once wrote, "I hope that when people look at my marriage they don't think, 'She has a great marriage because she chose a great man' or 'He has a great marriage because he chose a great wife.' I hope they realize, 'They have a great marriage because they chose God.'"

Survivors include wife Brenda of the home, and three children: Dianne and David Head of Cleveland, Oklahoma; Shannon Howard of Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Joel and Jamie Dowdy of Lewisville, Texas. Survivors also include seven grandchildren: Caleb Head, Jordan Head and wife Teresa, Logan Head, Gage Langley, Trey Guzman and wife Sydney, Grayson Dowdy, and Morgan Dowdy. Bob was also a proud great-grandfather to Asher Head, Olivia Head and Alexander Guzman. Bob also has one surviving sister, Bunny Baker of Bristow, Oklahoma. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Hester Dowdy, two brothers, Junior Frank (Bill) Dowdy and John Dowdy; two sisters, Nona Mae Bowles Meadows and Dorothy Sparkman, and wife, Jane Carolyn Dowdy.

"At the end of the day, I'm content with where I've been, and I'm proud of who I am- a sinner saved by grace." - Bob Dowdy