Cover photo for Reverend Dr. Thad Dowdle's Obituary
Reverend Dr. Thad Dowdle Profile Photo
1936 Reverend 2019

Reverend Dr. Thad Dowdle

September 25, 1936 — June 7, 2019

Hendersonville

Reverend Dr. Thad Robert Dowdle went home to be with the Lord on Friday, June 7, 2019.  He was a son of the late Thad Oswald Dowdle and Sarah Holbrooks Dowdle.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Gladys.  Thad grew up in the Longview Community in Franklin and attended Franklin High School and graduated in 1954.   Thad was called to preach at the age of 14.  He was the janitor of his church which means he was there every time the doors were opened, because he opened them. Thad attended Gardner Webb Jr. College and transferred to Carson Newman College.  He went to preach in Haywood county where he met the Love of his life and they were married in 1960.  After marriage he attended two years of Seminary at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena California where he helped with a Billy Graham Crusade.  He then went on to attend New Orleans Theological Seminary.  When returning to North Carolina he preached several Baptist churches including Marble Springs, Bent Creek, Yellow Mountain, Oakley, College Avenue, and Ebenezer.  Thad became Vice President of Academic affairs at Fruitland Baptist Bible College retiring in 2007, and continued to teach for 10 years and retired in 2017 with 31 years of teaching.  He also served numerous interim positions at various churches in Western North Carolina.  Thad was a big fan of anything horse or book related.  He enjoyed telling his "Happy Tails" to his family anytime he could. Thad would always make sure you knew who Jesus was before you walked out of his sight.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Shirley Smith Dowdle; a daughter Rebecca Hawkins; granddaughter Kasi Morrow (Rob); two grandsons Shayne Clemmons (Tiffany) and Patrick Clemmons, all of Hendersonville; two great-grandchildren Cooper Ray Morrow and Krislyn Rose Clemmons; nephew, Dale Coward; adopted granddaughter, Kerry Logsdon; two adopted great-grandchildren, Jaiden and Shaleigh Logsdon; cousin, Herman Holbrooks; and two special friends, Darrell and Bill Hawkins.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 15, 2019 at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Hendersonville with Reverend Steven Blanton, Reverend Greg Mathis, Reverend Thomas Glen and Reverend Tanner Mundy officiating.  A private burial will be held on Sunday in Upper Crabtree Community Cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 12:00 until 1:45 p.m. prior to the service at the church.

Memorials may be made to Memory Care of Asheville, 100 Far Horizons Lane, Asheville, NC 28803.

The care of Reverend Dr. Dowdle has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Homes.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Reverend Dr. Thad Dowdle, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Saturday, June 15, 2019

12:00 - 1:45 pm (Eastern time)

Ebenezer Baptist Church (Hendersonville)

NC

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Funeral Service

Saturday, June 15, 2019

Starts at 2:00 pm (Eastern time)

Ebenezer Baptist Church (Hendersonville)

NC

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Private Burial

Upper Crabtree Community Cemetery

Upper Crabtree Rd, NC 28721

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