Nelda Ruth Dowlen

A Viewing will be held on Friday, March 8 from 9:00 am to 8 pm at Hart-Wyatt Funeral Home in Temple. A Memorial Service will be held later on Saturday, March 30, 2019, at the Walters Church of The Nazarene at 10:30 A.M., Rev. Paul Metcalfe officiating. Memorial Donations can be made to Walters Church of the Nazarene FLC.

Nelda Ruth (Griffin) Dowlen Was born to Olen Smith and Ozella Mae (Wallace) Griffin on June 8, 1926 at Temple, OK and departed this life in Temple on March 4, 2019 at the age of 92 years, 8 months and 24 days.

Nelda grew up in the Duncan and Temple areas, graduating from Duncan High School 1944. She married John Ed Dowlen May 18, 1946 at First Baptist Church in Temple. Through the years she worked for the US Naval Ammunition Depot, Mare Island CA, Temple Public Schools, Temple Milling Co. and Tri County Elderly Nutrition. She retired April 15, 1981.

Nelda had been a member of the Eastern Star, Go Getters, and worked with the GA’S at First Baptist Church. She was a member of the Church of the Nazarene in Walters.

She was preceded by: husband, John Ed Dowlen; brother, Weldon Griffin and his wife Janice; son-in-law, JC Banks; grandson, Shaun Patrick Dowlen; parents, Olen and Ozella Griffin.

Survivors include her daughter, Renee Banks of Creede CO; 2 sons, Chris & Pat Dowlen of Temple and Mark & Brenda Dowlen of Walters; 8 Grandchildren, Kenny & Shannon Banks of Whitesboro TX, Diana & Robbie Collier of Colorado Springs CO, Amy Mead of OKC, Braylen & Amanda Dowlen of Temple, Danny Dowlen of Elmore City, Holly & Jared Clark of Clarksville TN, Candice & Glenn Girone of Norman, and Cody Dowlen of Roanoke VA; 11 Great grandchildren: Kenydal & Matt Beasley of Whitesboro TX, Paige Banks Whitesboro TX, Tristen & Ethan Collier of Colorado Springs CO, Kenzie Mead of Albuquerque NM, Payton & Brody Dowlen of Temple OK, Erin & Nathan Clark of Clarksville TN, and Cambria & Adian Girone of Norman OK; 1 Great-Great Grandchild: Owen Beasley of Whitesboro TX, and one on the way.