Obituary for Nancy Link Dowdy
Nancy Link Dowdy passed away Sunday, February 6, 2022, surrounded by family and more love than words can express. She was born September 12, 1928, in Giles County, Virginia to James Claude and Ida Bradley Link. Her early years growing up on a farm in southwestern Virginia shaped her life and she loved nothing more than going home “to the country." After graduating from high school, she worked at Celanese Corporation in Narrows before moving to Roanoke where she spent the rest of her career in the banking industry, retiring from Wells Fargo in the 90's. She loved everything about working in the business world- from going to lunch with her girlfriends and co-workers, fashionable clothing, and financially contributing to her family. She had a strong work ethic and was a beloved friend to many she met through her career.
She married Allan Benton Dowdy in 1950, initially residing in Pennsylvania while Allan was in the Army, and then moved to Pearisburg, VA, where they had two daughters, Karen and Susan. They moved to Roanoke where they raised their children and made a beautiful and inviting home for their daughters, extended family, and their daughters' friends. To this day many consider her a “second mom” with stories of her loving care and humor. She loved hearing girls giggling in the house and was known to happily duck down in the backseat during the student driving years so her girls could appear to be driving without a chaperone.
Nancy’s truest passion was her family. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and most recently great-grandmother to her “Baby Grace,” She was supportive of anything we cared about, was our biggest cheerleader, and never tired of listening to stories of our outings and individual lives. She also loved her siblings, nieces, and nephews and missed them terribly these last years when health concerns and Covid made reunions impossible
The last five years of her life were spent in Richmond, VA, living with her daughter Susan and son-in-law Don, who lovingly called her his “Queenie.” She embraced her new life, fell in love with their friends, never complained, and was the perfect companion to the family dogs who always sat by her side knowing they would get slipped a few bites of her dinner. She relished time spent with family around the table and was grateful for every bit of her life down to her last moments. Her absence will be felt to our cores, but her presence remains in each of us.
Nancy was predeceased by her husband, Allan Dowdy, daughter, Karen Schmidt, grandson, Bradley Schmidt, sister Juanita Haw, brother J.C. Link, beloved nephew, Barry Link, and other dear family. She is survived by her daughter, Susan Parr (Don); grandchildren, Justin Schmidt (Kathleen), Carlyn Parr (Tony Schaffner), Brendan Parr (Marta Timmermann); great-grandchild, Grace Schmidt; sister Peggy Sword; and many nieces, nephews, and dear friends.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00PM, Friday, February 11, 2022, at the Chapel of John M. Oakey & Son in Salem. The family will receive visitors one hour prior to the service. Private interment for family only will be held at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens following the service.
She married Allan Benton Dowdy in 1950, initially residing in Pennsylvania while Allan was in the Army, and then moved to Pearisburg, VA, where they had two daughters, Karen and Susan. They moved to Roanoke where they raised their children and made a beautiful and inviting home for their daughters, extended family, and their daughters' friends. To this day many consider her a “second mom” with stories of her loving care and humor. She loved hearing girls giggling in the house and was known to happily duck down in the backseat during the student driving years so her girls could appear to be driving without a chaperone.
Nancy’s truest passion was her family. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and most recently great-grandmother to her “Baby Grace,” She was supportive of anything we cared about, was our biggest cheerleader, and never tired of listening to stories of our outings and individual lives. She also loved her siblings, nieces, and nephews and missed them terribly these last years when health concerns and Covid made reunions impossible
The last five years of her life were spent in Richmond, VA, living with her daughter Susan and son-in-law Don, who lovingly called her his “Queenie.” She embraced her new life, fell in love with their friends, never complained, and was the perfect companion to the family dogs who always sat by her side knowing they would get slipped a few bites of her dinner. She relished time spent with family around the table and was grateful for every bit of her life down to her last moments. Her absence will be felt to our cores, but her presence remains in each of us.
Nancy was predeceased by her husband, Allan Dowdy, daughter, Karen Schmidt, grandson, Bradley Schmidt, sister Juanita Haw, brother J.C. Link, beloved nephew, Barry Link, and other dear family. She is survived by her daughter, Susan Parr (Don); grandchildren, Justin Schmidt (Kathleen), Carlyn Parr (Tony Schaffner), Brendan Parr (Marta Timmermann); great-grandchild, Grace Schmidt; sister Peggy Sword; and many nieces, nephews, and dear friends.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00PM, Friday, February 11, 2022, at the Chapel of John M. Oakey & Son in Salem. The family will receive visitors one hour prior to the service. Private interment for family only will be held at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens following the service.