Joseph James Dowling, 74

DOVER - Joseph James Dowling of Dover died Saturday, Oct. 21, 2007. He was 74.

Joseph was born Jan. 9, 1933, in Bamburg, S.C., son of the late James and Murlean Dowling.

He moved to Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1938.

Joseph was educated through the public school system.

He met his soulmate Mary Frazier, and they were married on Sept. 1, 1956. Out of this union God blessed them with five children. They are the late Caren Green, Mark J. Dowling of Newark, Robin Jones of Westbury, N.Y., Marsha Rogers of Middletown and the late Anthony J. Dowling of Dover.

Joseph served in the U.S. Army for two years and fought in the Korean War.

He was a stationary fireman for the board of education at P.S. 181 in Brooklyn for more than 25 years.

Joseph often said, "If you don't go to your job your neighbor will." Those were words of wisdom and he lived by those words until he was able to retire.

He was baptized in the Mount Olive Baptist Church, under the pastorship of Pastor Crayton. He was ordained as a deacon and served there for many years.

Joseph decided to move his family from Brooklyn to Freeport, N.Y., so that his children would have a greater opportunity.

He attended the House of Refuge, Freeport, where Bishop Ronald H. Carter was the pastor.

Joseph once again made a decision to upgrade his quality of life and moved to Delaware in 2001, where he spent his remaining years.

He became a member of the Union Missionary Baptist Church, under the direction of Pastor Redi Moore.

Joseph was a faithful husband and an excellent father with great work ethics. He was a man with a strong sense of family. He was loved by all that had an opportunity to know him.

He leaves to mourn his memory his loving soulmate, Mary Dowling; his children, Mark J. Dowling, Robin Jones and Marsha Rogers; his sister, Oreane Ladson; one brother-in-law, Benjamin Frazier; one sister-in-law, Mary Frazier; two sons-in-law, Ronald Rogers and Gonzales Jones; one daughter-in-law, Desiree Dowling; 15 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and mends.

Services will be 11 a.m. today at Victory Christian Fellowship Church, 100 Wilton Blvd., New Castle, where a viewing will begin at 10 a.m.