Obituaries

Virgil Lee Dowling Virgil Lee Dowling passed away February 11, 2003 in Modesto, California after a lengthy illness. He was born March 17, 1923 in Ardmore, Oklahoma to Elzie and Rena Dowling. He was the third of eight children.In 1943 the family moved to California. That year he was drafted and reported for duty at Camp Roberts. His company was sent to Germany and France, where he was in charge of the motor pool in the Ordnance Camps. He met his wife-to-be Emmy in Munich, and they both came back to the United States in 1948. He was honorably discharged as a sergeant from Fort Bliss, Texas in 1949. They then moved to Ventura, then later to Santa Paula where they bought a home and raised their three children.Virgil’s love for cars began as a teenager where he worked as a mechanic. In Ventura he was also a mechanic for Big L Garage. His knowledge brought family, neighbors and friends to him for help and advice. His main job was as a machinist for Gilbertson Oil & Tool where he worked for many years. He also worked for Dick Alegre and John Fisher, then OCO Tool in Ventura where he retired.His favorite recreation was bowling, where he was well known around the county. He also was on the American Bowling Congress Board of Directors.After Emmy passed away in 1975, he later met and married Betty Lamert, who later passed away from complications of an auto accident. He later met Adron Smotherman at a bowling tournament in Modesto, and they married in 1985. They moved in 1996 to Modesto so Adron could be closer to her sons.Survivors include daughters Evelyn Ray of Jonesboro, Arkansas, Betty Roina and son Gary Dowling (wife Heather) of Santa Paula; sisters O’Bea Duncan of Conroe, Texas, and Ruby Pool (husband Lyndell) of Oxnard; brother Wendell (wife Lynne) of Santa Paula; grandchildren, Michael and Eddy Gilliam of Jonesboro, Ark., Peter Roina of Redmond, Oregon, and Heather LeAnn Dowling of Oroville, California; one great-granddaughter in Jonesboro, Ark.; stepsons Doug, Eric, Kevin and Ronald Smotherman of Modesto; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.Preceding him in death are his parents, Elzie and Rena Dowling; sister Juanita Timberlake; brothers Elzie, Preston Carl and Vernon Dowling; wives Emmy, Betty and Adron; grandson Brian Roina; and stepson Carl Smotherman.Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or VFW.