John McDowell

BRIDGEPORT John Cornelius McDowell Sr., 83, died Sunday, July 18, 2010, at Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga.John was the son of the late Thomas Jefferson "T.J." and Bertha Lee Atkins McDowell born March 30, 1927 in Bridgeport.Mr. McDowell was a Disabled Retired Master Sergeant from the U.S. Air Force and Veteran of WWII, Korean and Vietnam Wars, member of Bridgeport Masonic Lodge, Alhambra Shrine in Chattanooga, and member of First Baptist Church in Bridgeport. He also retired from the Orlando Postal Service.Besides his parents, John was preceded in death by his siblings: Clara Searcy, Thomas W., Lawrence C., Gearl B., and Glen H. McDowell.He is survived by his wife of 21 years, Mary Jim Watt McDowell; children, Deborah (Randy) Webb, of Carrollton, Ga., John C. (Lesa) McDowell, of Medesto, Calif.; grandson, Jason (Marcia) Waterson, of Bowdon, Ga.; great-grandchildren, Devin, Kyle and Colin Waterson; siblings, Norman "Tricky" McDowell and Carl McDowell, both of Bridgeport, Ala., Frances McDowell (Robert) Haley, of Marietta, Ga., Carolyn McDowell Case, of South Pittsburg, Tenn.; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Ed (Pat) Watt, of Chattanooga and Eloise McDowell, of Knoxville. The funeral will be 2 p.m. CDT today, July 21, at Rudder Funeral Home chapel officiated by Rev. Jim Bernard and Rev. Sam Lassiter.Masonic and Military Honors and Interment will be at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Bridgeport.www.rudderfuneralhomes.com.Memorials to First Baptist or First United Methodist Church or charity of your choice.