James Leroy Dowell, 90, of Sunderland, MD died October 29, 2011 at his home, a Dowell family residence since 1722. He was born in Sunderland on December 8, 1920 to Albert and Bertha Turner Dowell.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife Margaret Stevens Dowell in 2002.

He served in the U.S. Army, was a life long tobacco farmer, a member of All Saint's Episcopal Church and a former Calvert County Fair Board Member. He was an avid baseball enthusiast playing for the 1938 co-ed All Saints softball team and starring as a First-baseman for local baseball teams. Later in life he enjoyed watching his grandchildren play ball. In addition to raising tobacco Leroy always had a milk cow, raised beef cattle, pigs, and chickens and grew a large garden. He enjoyed attending church with his wife, singing, coon hunting and talking with his friends. Later in life he enjoyed reading newspapers, chewing tobacco and going out to eat at McDonalds.

Survivors include his children, Dr. Margaret Lee Dowell, James Leroy Dowell, Jr. and wife Jennifer, Mary Dowell Herring and husband Warren; Grandchildren Adam Dowell and wife Lauren, Benjamin Dowell and fiancé Michelle, Timothy Dowell, Zachary Dowell, Dawn Shilkoski and husband John, Molly Herring and Mark Herring; Great-grandson Noah Vann Dowell; and siblings William Dowell and Mildred Phipps and her husband Melvin. He was preceded in death by sisters Jeannetta King, Virginia Sheckells and Doris Gibson.

Visitation will be held at Rausch Funeral Home, P.A., 8325 Mt. Harmony Lane, Owings, MD in on Wednesday, November 2 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Thursday, November 3, 2011 at All Saints Episcopal Church in Sunderland.

Arrangements provided by Rausch Funeral Home.