James Dowling

James Dowling, 78

James Roswell Dowling, of Poulsbo, died on Sept. 14 at Martha and Mary Health Care Center in Poulsbo. He was 78.

He was born on Oct. 31, 1930 in Madison, Wis., and was raised in the South Shore area of Chicago. He attended Bryn Mawr Grammar School and South Shore High School and took a two-year course at Bradley University in Peoria, Ill.

He married Mary Joan “Mary Jo” Gerding in Chicago in 1953. In 1954 they moved to Milwaukee, where their two sons, Scott and Richard, were born. They moved to Waukesha, Wis., in 1959, where their daughter Sheila was born.

The family later moved to Monterey Park, Calif., where he pursued a career in the aerospace industry at TRW Systems. While with TRW he was awarded a U.S. patent for a high-intensity shock machine. He took early retirement in 1987 and continued his career with Kimball Industries, where he worked for five years. He always said his 20 years at TRW were the happiest and most rewarding of his professional life.

In 1993 he and Mary Jo moved to Prescott, Ariz., and in 2003 moved to Poulsbo to be near their daughter and her family.

Jim was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2003 and in December 2004 moved into Martha and Mary Care Center.

Jim enjoyed drawing ships – he drew them in study hall at school instead of doing his homework. He especially liked to draw old fashioned sailing vessels.

He also enjoyed sweets, photography and model trains.

He was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution. He enjoyed volunteering at Union Station in Pasadena, Calif., and at St. Vincent de Paul Society in Prescott, where he established the spaghetti dinner fundraiser.

He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Mary Jo; his children, Sheila (Tim) Ottersen and Richard (Laurell) Dowling; and his grandchildren, Jonathan Lann, Sarah Ottersen, Christopher Ottersen, Eric Dowling and Kathleen Dowling.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Claire and Frances (Hipple) Dowling, and son Robert Scott Dowling.

Family and friends are respectfully invited to attend the Memorial Mass at noon Oct. 17 at St. Olaf Catholic Church, 18943 Caldart Ave., Poulsbo. A reception will follow in the church hall.

Memorial contributions can be made to a charity of choice.

Arrangements are by Cook Family Funeral Home. An online guest book is at www.cookfamilyfuneralhome.com.