Obituary of Crawford Bouie Dowdell

Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Crawford Bouie Dowdell, 90, former resident of Schenectady, NY, died Tuesday, April 14, 2009 in Bradenton, Florida. He was born in New Haven, CT, and raised in Americus, GA by Crawford Bertus and Eula May Dowdell. He received a Bachelors Degree in Civil Engineering from Howard University and studied toward a Masters Degree in Civil Engineering at Yale University and University of Michigan. Crawford designed bridges and became a Division Engineer for the New York State Thruway Authority in Albany, NY, where he retired in 1986. He was an Original Tuskegee Airman, trained as a Bombardier during WW II. He was a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., American Legion in Schenectady and Niskayuna Reformed Church. Crawford was predeceased by his wife Doris May Bailey Dowdell in 1988 and survived by his children; LaVerne Antoinette Dowdell of Schenectady, NY, Carol Denise Cromer of Mitchellville, MD, Joanne Yvette Dowdell of Portsmouth, NH, and Kevin Crawford Dowdell of Washington, DC; Grandchildren, Tamara Vera Nicole Albury of Ft. Worth, TX, Etienne Dae Cromer of Mitchellville, MD, Great Granddaughter, Amiya Dae Saunders, and several cousins. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a funeral service on Saturday, April 18th at 2 PM at Niskayuna Reformed Church, Troy Road, Niskayuna, NY. There will be no calling hours. Burial with Military honors will be held following the service at Niskayuna Reformed Church Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made in Crawford's name to the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.