William Eugene “Bill” McDow, Sr., age 85 of Longton, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, May 13, 2024 at Moline North Lake, Moline.
Bill was born Sept. 25, 1938 in Eureka, to Harlan and Ollie (Pearson) McDow. He was raised on the family farm near Tonovay alongside his nine older siblings, graduating from High School in 1958. After high school, Bill joined the United States Army and served his country in between the Korean War and Vietnam War.
Bill met the love of his life, Dianne Dixon at one of the bars he owned in Wichita and on February 22, 1980, they were united in marriage. They spent the next 39 plus years together until her passing in 2019, raising their children and watching their grandchildren grow.
Bill was also a contractor and could do all kinds of concrete flatwork. When he wasn’t busy at a construction site, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, and family get togethers. He liked working on cars, boats, and lawn mowers that he would buy, fix up and then sell. He was also known to enjoy a good Royals ball game and a cold beer on a cold day when he couldn’t be outside tinkering with a project.
His favorite hobby was being a grandpa. His family was very important to him, and he was important to his family. He will be missed by those that called him dad, grandpa or friend.
Bill is survived by his children: William McDow, Jr. and his wife Jennifer of Moline; Valerie McDow and fiancé Heath Beckwith of Elk City; Bridget Mc-Dow of Wichita; Step-children: Shannon Robertson and husband Tim Brown of Colorado Springs, Colo.; Larry Robertson of Wichita; grandchildren: Kayla McDow of Bartlesville, Okla.; Matthew McDow of Independence; Nolan McDow of Moline; and Bradley Clarenson of Elk City.
He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings: Howard Victor McDow, Harlan Lloyd McDow, Margie Rebecca (McDow) Brinkman, Elizabeth Annetta (McDow) Winn, Ollie Leota (McDow) Pearson, Betty Irene (McDow) Loffland, Mary Jane (McDow) Maloney/Sowers, Gerald Leroy McDow, and Thomas Warren McDow.
A Celebration of Life was held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, at the Christian Community Church in Longton.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers specifically for Whitehall Bay at Fall River Lake and can be mailed to or left with the funeral home.
Services entrusted to Countryside Funeral Home, 206 E. Washington, PO Box 1233, Howard, KS 67349.
