Dorothy Maxine Newell Dow's Obituary
Dorothy Maxine Newell Dow
June 2, 1923 to July 24, 2021
Dorothy Maxine Newell Dow (“Dottie”) was born on a farm in Augusta, Illinois, on June 2, 1923.
When her father, Herman Ivan Newell, was about 30 years old, he packed up the family and moved them to Chicago, so that he could attend Moody Bible Institute. After graduation, he became the pastor of the United Brethren Church in Freeport, Illinois, and it was there that Dottie and her sister Wilma (“Billie”) sang in the church choir. Piano lessons, playing the violin in the high school orchestra and winning vocal contests were an important part of Dottie’s life.
After graduation from high school, Dottie attended Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. There she met Robert Gene Dow (Bob), and they became acquainted with each other while singing on the Moody radio station WMBI. Dottie and Bob married in 1944 and continued singing together for many, many years, while Bob held pastoral and minister of music positions in various churches in California, Illinois and Washington State. Of special note is their long-time ministry together at College Avenue Baptist Church in San Diego, where Bob was the Minister of Music from 1963 to 1975. Dottie was always a star soprano in his choir, as well as directing the primary age Cherub Choir. She was a supportive minister’s wife and companion, content to stay in the background and to be Bob’s inspiration.
As four children came along, Dottie made her primary role serving in the home.
Those who knew Dottie would describe her as sweet, a bit shy, elegant, classy, cheerful, a loving wife and mother, and a faithful follower of Jesus Christ.
Dottie was pre-deceased by her mother Pearl Mae Covert Newell in 1970; brother Russell I. Newell in 1974; sister Wilma Irene Newell Barrows in 1994; father Herman Ivan Newell in 1999, and cherished husband Robert Gene Dow (1921-2003).
Surviving Dottie are her stepmother Enna Evelyn Davis Newell of Springfield, Illinois and Dottie & Bob’s children: Judith Arlene Dow of San Marcos, CA; Janice Lea Stover and husband Andrew Nelson Stover of Cundy’s Harbor, ME; Barbara Jean Dow of Oceanside, CA; and James Preble Dow of Portland, OR. Grandchildren are Matthew Steven Tallaksen of Natick, MA; Jill Marie McMahon and husband Timothy Joseph McMahon of Portland, ME; Melissa Emily Dow and husband Peter George Rohrich-Hancock of Portland, ME; Geoffrey Scott Dow and wife Katrina Marie Grey Quezada of Portland, OR; Lillian Mary Dow and husband Ronan Lee Pate of Portland, OR. Surviving great-grandchildren are Finnbahr Joseph McMahon and Henry Douglas McMahon of Portland, ME.
There will be a graveside Celebration of Life for Dottie at El Camino Memorial Park, 5600 Carroll Canyon Road, San Diego, CA, 92121-4791, on Thursday, August 12, 2021, at 11:00 AM. All friends are welcome to come and to rejoice with the family as we honor Dottie with grateful hearts, wearing cheerful clothing that she would love.
Memorial gifts in honor of Dorothy Dow may be made to NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness at https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/1426249
or by check to NAMI San Diego, Attn Rick, 5095 Murphy Canyon Road, Suite #320, San Diego, CA 92123
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