Dottie Dower

Dottie Dower was born in Washington, DC on December 21, 1929, but lived most of her early years in Maryland. Dottie worked as a bookkeeper for Liberty National Bank and National Savings & Trust Bank in Washington, DC before meeting her U.S. Marine Corps husband, Ken Dower at a military dance. Dottie and Ken had three dates before getting married on October 14, 1948. After their marriage, they lived in Camp Pendleton, CA, Landover, MD, Manassas, VA, and Collinsville, IL. In 1970, Dottie and the family moved to California and lived in Coronado, Clairemont, La Jolla, and Ocean Beach before moving to Ramona in 1995. Dottie was a member of the First Congregational Church, but was raised in the Seventh Day Adventist Church as a child. She devoted time every morning praying, studying and meditating with the Daily Word and her Bible. She enjoyed her hobby of writing to many of her pen pals all throughout the United States and Canada. Dottie loved the pet therapy she was getting every day from their beautiful golden retriever named Jake and two orange tabby cats, Harvey and Beemer. As a lover of animals, she donated to several animal charities for many years including the Helen Woodward Animal Center, various Humane Societies, Canine Companions, Guiding Eyes and the Doris Day Animal League. Dottie and Ken renewed their marriage vows of sixty-years in an outdoor setting on the Barnett Ranch Preserve in October 2008. This October would have marked their marriage of 63 years. Dottie passed away peacefully at home on April 23, 2011. She is survived by her husband Ken Dower of Ramona, CA, a brother John Loor and wife June Loor of Henderson, NC, oldest daughter Cheryl Knopf and husband, Bill Knopf of Federalsburg, MD, middle daughter Laurie Clements and husband, Jeff Clements of Ramona, CA and youngest daughter Darla White and husband, AJ White of Ramona, CA. She leaves four grandsons, Billy Knopf of Fruitland, MD, Hans Clements, Logan and Trevor White of Ramona, CA. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Helen Woodward Animal Center, 6461 El Apajo Road Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067. A Celebration of Life service for Dottie will be held at the First Congregational Church, 8th and D Streets in Ramona, CA, May 7, 2011 at 11am.

Bonham Bros. & Stewart Mortuary and Cremation Service is assisting the family.

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