Myrtle Long Dowdle

Franklin - Our beloved mother and grandmother, Myrtle Frances Long Dowdle, went to heaven in the early morning hours of Saturday, October 11, 2008. Her loving heart failed despite the efforts of the wonderful medical personnel at Palmetto Richland Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina.

Myrtle was born in Franklin, North Carolina on November 30, 1925, to Henry Melvin Long and Sarah Belle Blaine. She was preceded in death by her brothers Bert, Boyd, Floyd, Ernest, and Lawrence Long, and sisters Hazel Higdon, Vergie Shuler, and Zelma Cody. Aunt Myrtle was the last of that large and loving family, although there are many surviving nieces and nephews who remember her fondly.

Myrtle was the widow of John Dearld Dowdle, also of Franklin, North Carolina. She missed Dad greatly, and we are consoled that they are together again.

Myrtle is survived by her daughter, Lora Elizabeth Dowdle Johnson, and son-in-law William Clyde Johnson of Columbia, SC, and grandchildren Amy Loran Johnson Wicks-Horn of Charlottesville, VA, and William Alan Johnson of Pequea, PA. Amy and Sean Horn are the loving parents of three of her great-grandchildren: Elizabeth Katherine Wicks, Emily Erin Wicks, and Victoria Danielle Horn. William Alan Johnson and Danielle Lepore Johnson are the proud parents of Myrtle's latest great-grandchild, Marissa Rose, born June 29. Dorothy Higdon Cieciorka, who lived with Aunt Myrtle as a young child, also survives her. Dorothy and Kevin Cieciorka live in Pittsboro, North Carolina.

Myrtle worked for twenty-two years at the Belden Electrical Cord factory and retired in 1988. In later years she moved to Columbia, SC to be near her loving family. Myrtle lived in her own house in a wonderful close knit neighborhood. She knew every person on her street, and often took in their mail and watched their house when they traveled or had an emergency. She welcomed new people as they came into the neighborhood. Her loving neighbors, friends, and family often helped her with chores and always looked after her carefully with phone calls, visits, and trips to eat out together. She worked on her genealogy, and enjoyed her music, reading, crafts, flowers, and travel. To the end, she was independent, kind, helpful, and always smiling. She will be missed by all who knew her.

Services will be held at the Bryant-Grant Funeral Home at 105 West Main Street in Franklin, NC on Sunday October 19, 2008. Visitation will be from 2:00pm until 3:00pm followed by a short service in the chapel. Memorials may be made to the Reach out and Read Program by donation to University of Virginia Children's Hospital PO Box 800773 Charlottesville, VA 22908-0773 or call 434-924-8432.

Online condolences are available by visiting www.bryantgrantfuneralhome.com or by email.