James McDowell
James Horace McDowell, Jr., of Signal Mountain, Tennessee, died on September 9, 2020, at age 100.
He was a native of Chattanooga, and was a graduate of Bright School and of Baylor School, 1937. He attended The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and was a member of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity. In 1942 he joined Pan American Airways (PAA), and as a pilot flew the flying boats, known as Clippers, to Europe, Africa, and South America. While with PAA, he piloted aircraft for the Army Military Air Transport Service (MATS) and Naval Air Transport Service (NATS) during World War II. He received a bachelor of science degree from the University of Chattanooga in 1959 and a master's of Business Administration in 1965. He was employed by Dixie Mercerizing Company and retired as assistant director of the Tennessee Valley Authority Division of Purchasing. He was a life member of the National Association of Purchasing Management and a member of the Chattanooga Flyers Club. He was a former Chairman of Camping and Activities for the Cherokee Area Council of The Boy Scouts of America and was an Eagle Scout with the Silver Beaver Award. He was the founder and past president of the GMC Dixielanders' Chapter of the Family Motor Coach Association. For 70 years he was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Chattanooga where he was deacon. He was a member of the Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church since 1999.
He is survived by his wife, Louise Griffin McDowell of Signal Mountain, son David McDowell of Saraland, Alabama, daughter Karen McDowell of Lexington, Kentucky, grandsons James McDowell (Angela) of Saraland, and Matthew McDowell (Kayse) of Wilmer Alabama, Scott Denton (Barbara) of Duisburg, Germany, and six great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at Chattanooga Memorial Park, 501 Memorial Drive, Chattanooga (Red Bank), at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12.
Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com.