George Lee Dowdy Jr

The Lord sent a special gift to Lucille and George Dowdy, Sr. on February 15, 1950. That gift was in the form of George Lee Dowdy, Jr. He honored Christ by giving to his fellow man through friendship and acts of service to others. Most of those acts were only seen by Christ and those who benefited from the giving. His stern and candid demeanor led others to know where they stood with George, Jr. He was awarded two sports scholarships to the North Carolina State Wolf Pack and William and Mary for baseball and football. He chose to go to Smith Dale Massie Community College in Richmond and earn an Associates degree in, of all things, Computer Programming. In the end, he found a career at Phillip Morris and made his living in tobacco. George, Jr. bought his first shotgun by raising an acre of tobacco with his mother at the age of 12. He was a friend to countless individuals, mentor, father, and grandfather. George was a coach to some, and teacher to others. George, Jr. was an avid fall turkey hunter, bird hunter, until the quail started disappearing, and deer hunter.
He also loved to fish. George, Jr. was even known to duck hunt with friends like Claude Meinhard and Johnny Clements. His friendships stretched beyond Virginia and went as far as Houston, Texas with his friend and brother Mark Bond. George, Jr. loved to play Rook in weekend tournaments with Tom and Mildred Brown, Judy and Ernest Marion, George Sr., Aline and Jimmy Ownby, and many others. George, Jr., met his wife, Sue Ranson Dowdy, who proceeded him in death, on a blind date, set up by Faye Leonard and Steve Bobb from Buckingham, who also married one another. He and Sue gave unconditionally to the Dixie Youth League for many years and met many fine people through something as simple and perfect as baseball and softball. George, Jr. was a JV Baseball Coach for Cumberland County High School and inspired others to follow his lead. George, Jr. loved Cumberland and always hoped for the best for his native county and for Virginia. On the evening of November 6, 2023, George, Jr. was reborn unto the Lord due to complications during an attempted life- saving procedure by the talented surgical staff at Chippenham Hospital to repair an aneurysm in his lower abdomen. George, Jr. was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He was also proceeded in death by his mother, father, and sister, Patricia Kathleen Dowdy Boyd; brothers-in-law James Boyd and Radford T. Ranson, and countless other family members and friends. He is survived by his son George "Lee" Dowdy, III and granddaughters Rozelia and Jesse Dowdy, daughter Joellen Ranson Franklin and granddaughter Logan Franklin. He is also survived by nephews Marvin Boyd (Sara) and daughter Abigail, Zach Ranson, Elijah Ranson (Summer) and son Bradley, and niece Samantha Ranson Scialdo (John) and daughter Piper.