Roy Lee Dowdy

Mr. Roy Lee Dowdy, age 91, passed away August 28, 2024.  He was born in Rocky Mount, NC, son of the late Paul Mac Dowdy and Beulah Oakley Dowdy.  At the age of 8, Roy was placed in foster care and grew up in homes with many children.  Roy joined the United States Navy when he was 17 and served for three and a half years, most of which was aboard the USS Destroyer Haynesworth. After being honorably discharged from the Navy, Roy enlisted in the United States Army where he served his country for an additional two years.  After the completion of his military service, he began work at Hampton Roads Naval Station in Virginia. He was employed there for 10 years. In 1970, he moved his family to Georgia when he took a job at the Federal Aviation Administration in Hampton. He worked there as an electronics technician for 19 years before retiring.

Roy enjoyed antique radio restoration, television repair, and attending reunions with his shipmates who served on the USS Haynesworth.

 

In addition to his parents, Roy was preceded in death by his wife, Elaine Weise Dowdy, son Ronald Dowdy, sisters and brothers, Pauline, Mary, Shirley, Dorothy, Delores, Oshay, Donald Ray and Johnny Mac; and his beloved dog Pedro.

 

He is survived by his children:  Ann Dowdy McElroy and Travis Dowdy (Melissa); grandchildren: Elizabeth Callaway (Shaun), Preston “PT” Dowdy, Lila Dowdy, Elan “Bubba” Elliott, Nathan Dowdy (Haley) and Austin Elliott (Nicole); great-grandchildren: Mason Callaway, Preston Dowdy III, Penelope Dowdy and Oliver Elliott; sister:  Carolyn Curry; and many nieces and nephews.

 

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 31, 2024, at 12 p.m. in the chapel of Moody-Daniel Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Moody Memorial Gardens.

 

Friends may visit the family on Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., at the funeral home.