Reverend William P. Dowling Jr.

Father William P. Dowling, Jr., died on October 6 at the Riverview Health and Rehabilitation Center in Savannah, after a long illness.

William Patrick Dowling was born on November 18, 1919, in Savannah. He was the first child of William Patrick Dowling, Sr., and Marie Stegin Dowling. He attended Marist School for Boys, Benedictine Military School, and Savannah High School, from which he was graduated in 1938. After graduation he worked in his father's foundry from June 1938 until July 1943, learning all the technical and administrative skills of the business. During this time he also studied and took a correspondence course in chemical engineering from International Correspondence School, Scranton, Pennsylvania, from 1938 to 1940.

On July 9, 1943, he was inducted into military service at Fort McPherson, Georgia. He served overseas with the Third Aircraft Repair Unit Floating from November 15, 1944, until October 1945 at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Panama Canal Zone; Finchaffen and Hollandia in New Guinea; Tacloban, Leyte, Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, Subic Bay, and Manila in the Phillippine Islands. He received numerous decorations for his military service, including the World War II Victory Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Service Medal with three Bronze Stars, the Good Conduct Medal, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one Bronze Star, and the American Service Medal. He was honorably discharged as a Technical Sergeant on February 6, 1946.

After military service, he entered the seminary and in 1948 earned an Associate's degree from Saint Bernard College, Cullman, Alabama. He then went to Rome, Italy, where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy from the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1950. He earned a Bachelor's Degree in Sacred Theology from Saint Mary's University, Baltimore, in 1953, and Licentiate in Sacred Theology from Saint Mary's University in 1954. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Savannah at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist on May 22, 1954. He later earned a Master's Degree in Psychology from Valdosta State University.
Father Dowling's first appointment was as assistant pastor at Blessed Sacrament Church, Savannah, from June 1954 until July 1957, serving as spiritual director for the Legion of Mary from 1956. He was then appointed assistant pastor at Holy Family Church in Columbus, from July 1957 until June 15, 1958. His next appointment was as pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes church in Columbus from June 15, 1958 until June 15, 1968. Under his leadership, the parish's membership increased from 120 members to 3, 000 and in those ten years the parish's budget increased to $110, 000.00 per year. During this time, he was also administrator of Our Lady of Lourdes School from 1960 to 1968 and confessor to the sisters at Saint Francis Hospital also in Columbus 1961.

On June 15, 1968, Father Dowling was appointed Director of Social Services for the Diocese of Savannah and Coordinator of the Social Apostolate.

Father Dowling was pastor of Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish, Saint Marys, from 1977 to 1984, when he retired from the active ministry, although he continued to administer that parish until June 1985.
Father Dowling was a member of the Board of Directors of the Economic Opportunity Authority Savannah; a member of the Executive Council of the Model Cities Program for Savannah as a representative elected by the residence of the Model Cities Area; a member of the Diocesan Liturgical Commission August 1963; a member of the Diocesan Ecumenical Commission March 1966, the Board of Consultors 1966, and the Presbyteral Council 1966. He also served as a liaison to the Georgia Council of Churches.

Father Dowling was also a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Georgia Council on Human Relations, the Chatham Clergy Conference, the Catholic Theological Society, the Chatham Crusade for Voters and the Liturgical Conference.

In recent years, Father Dowling was in residence at the Rose of Sharon Apartments, in Savannah, where he celebrated Mass for the residents three times a week. He also prayed the Rosary with residents, provided the Sacrament of Reconciliation and held discussion groups.
He was preceded in death by his parents and by his sister Mary Dowling Rossiter Jim and is survived by one brother, Joseph S. Dowling Angela of Chattanooga, Tennessee, two sisters, Lillian Dowling Odom Jim and Ann Dowling Farr Joe, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist on Wednesday, October 8 from 6:00-8:00 p.m., with a Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m.

His Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 9 at the Cathedral.

Burial will follow at the Catholic Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be James C. Rossiter Jr., James C. Rossiter III, William D. Rossiter, Konrad Clemens, Joseph D. Farr Jr., Bill Lavan and Joseph K. Ebberwein.

Remembrances may be made to the Catholic Diocese of Savannah, 601 E. Liberty Street, Savannah, GA 31401.

Fox and Weeks Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements.