Victor James Dowling, 87, of Vero Beach, FL, died Wednesday after a valiant struggle following heart surgery. Born in New York City, he was the oldest son of Victor H. & Joan (Reardon) Dowling.
In 1930, he moved with his family to Hartford, CT, where he attended St. Augustine School and Bulkeley High School, Class of 1941. He was admitted to Harvard University as a member of the Class of '45, before World War II interrupted his studies. Called into active service in January of 1943, he served as a B-17 G Pilot with the 407th Squad of the 92nd Bomb Group (Fame's Favored Few) with the 8th Air Force and was stationed in Poddington, England. Victor flew 35 high altitude missions over Germany; was shot down over Cologne on January 28th, 1945; was captured by the Germans and imprisoned in Stalag Luft (III) before he escaped to Allied territory. He earned a Distinguished Flying Cross, 2 Purples Hearts and an Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters (representing six major battles) for his wartime service. After the war, Victor completed his Harvard degree. Later, he worked at Brown & Thompson Department Store as Buyer and Manager of Major Appliances, while attending law school evenings at the University of Connecticut, graduating with a J.D. in 1951. He founded Dowling & Dowling, Attorneys-at-Law - a general law practice that thrived for over 50 years - first at 3 Lewis Street in Hartford and, later, at 987 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury. Some of the offices he held throughout his career were Republican Town Chairman, West Hartford, CT; corporation counsel, Town of West Hartford; president, Officers Club of Connecticut; member, Board of Advisors, Mt. St. Joseph Academy; member, Board of Governors, Old Lyme, CT, chairman, Armed Forces Day Committee; trustee, St. Mary's Home; State Trial Referee. For the last twenty years, he lived in Vero Beach, FL, where he was an active member of Holy Cross Church. He enjoyed bridge and played golf regularly at Orchid Island Beach and Tennis Club and Quail Valley Golf Club, where he also watched the annual Harvard-Yale Football game on TV with great relish. Victor was actively involved in the Orchid Island Condominium Association.
He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 41 years, Mary G. Dowling; children, Victor J. Dowling, Jr. and his wife, Jody, of CT, Dirk R. Dreux and his wife, Mimi, of CT, Mark S. Dreux and his wife, Joan, of VA, Diane D. Smith and her husband, Leonard, of Spain as well as by his brothers, Vincent J. Dowling, Esq. of FL and Gregory F. Dowling of CT.
He was predeceased by his first wife, Ruth Decker Martell, as well as by his siblings, Donald H. Dowling, Esq. of Avon, CT, Gerard J. Dowling, Esq. of Old Lyme, CT, Kevin V. Dowling, M.D., Joan A. Dowling and Denise A. Dowling - all of West Hartford, CT. His grandchildren are Victor James, III, Alison, Caitlin and John Dowling of CT, Mary Brooke and Virginia Dreux of CT, Mark S., Jr. and his wife, Molly, of VA, Erin, Peter and Caitlyn Dreux of VA and two great-grandchildren, Lillie Kate and Charlotte Dreux of VA.
Calling hours are from 3 to 7p.m. Sunday, Sep 19th, at the Vincent Funeral Home, 880 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury, CT. The funeral will be Monday, Sep 20th, 11a.m. at St. Catherine of Siena Church, 265 Stratton Brook Road in West Simsbury, CT. Burial with military honors will be in Fairview Cemetery in West Hartford, CT. The family deeply appreciates the sensitivity, skill and dedication of all the doctors, nurses and staff at the Chawla Cardiac Pavilion and the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at St. Francis Hospital.
In 1930, he moved with his family to Hartford, CT, where he attended St. Augustine School and Bulkeley High School, Class of 1941. He was admitted to Harvard University as a member of the Class of '45, before World War II interrupted his studies. Called into active service in January of 1943, he served as a B-17 G Pilot with the 407th Squad of the 92nd Bomb Group (Fame's Favored Few) with the 8th Air Force and was stationed in Poddington, England. Victor flew 35 high altitude missions over Germany; was shot down over Cologne on January 28th, 1945; was captured by the Germans and imprisoned in Stalag Luft (III) before he escaped to Allied territory. He earned a Distinguished Flying Cross, 2 Purples Hearts and an Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters (representing six major battles) for his wartime service. After the war, Victor completed his Harvard degree. Later, he worked at Brown & Thompson Department Store as Buyer and Manager of Major Appliances, while attending law school evenings at the University of Connecticut, graduating with a J.D. in 1951. He founded Dowling & Dowling, Attorneys-at-Law - a general law practice that thrived for over 50 years - first at 3 Lewis Street in Hartford and, later, at 987 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury. Some of the offices he held throughout his career were Republican Town Chairman, West Hartford, CT; corporation counsel, Town of West Hartford; president, Officers Club of Connecticut; member, Board of Advisors, Mt. St. Joseph Academy; member, Board of Governors, Old Lyme, CT, chairman, Armed Forces Day Committee; trustee, St. Mary's Home; State Trial Referee. For the last twenty years, he lived in Vero Beach, FL, where he was an active member of Holy Cross Church. He enjoyed bridge and played golf regularly at Orchid Island Beach and Tennis Club and Quail Valley Golf Club, where he also watched the annual Harvard-Yale Football game on TV with great relish. Victor was actively involved in the Orchid Island Condominium Association.
He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 41 years, Mary G. Dowling; children, Victor J. Dowling, Jr. and his wife, Jody, of CT, Dirk R. Dreux and his wife, Mimi, of CT, Mark S. Dreux and his wife, Joan, of VA, Diane D. Smith and her husband, Leonard, of Spain as well as by his brothers, Vincent J. Dowling, Esq. of FL and Gregory F. Dowling of CT.
He was predeceased by his first wife, Ruth Decker Martell, as well as by his siblings, Donald H. Dowling, Esq. of Avon, CT, Gerard J. Dowling, Esq. of Old Lyme, CT, Kevin V. Dowling, M.D., Joan A. Dowling and Denise A. Dowling - all of West Hartford, CT. His grandchildren are Victor James, III, Alison, Caitlin and John Dowling of CT, Mary Brooke and Virginia Dreux of CT, Mark S., Jr. and his wife, Molly, of VA, Erin, Peter and Caitlyn Dreux of VA and two great-grandchildren, Lillie Kate and Charlotte Dreux of VA.
Calling hours are from 3 to 7p.m. Sunday, Sep 19th, at the Vincent Funeral Home, 880 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury, CT. The funeral will be Monday, Sep 20th, 11a.m. at St. Catherine of Siena Church, 265 Stratton Brook Road in West Simsbury, CT. Burial with military honors will be in Fairview Cemetery in West Hartford, CT. The family deeply appreciates the sensitivity, skill and dedication of all the doctors, nurses and staff at the Chawla Cardiac Pavilion and the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at St. Francis Hospital.
Victor James Dowling, 87, of Vero Beach, FL, died Wednesday after a valiant struggle following heart surgery. Born in New York City, he was the oldest son of Victor H. & Joan (Reardon) Dowling.
In 1930, he moved with his family to Hartford, CT, where he attended St. Augustine School and Bulkeley High School, Class of 1941. He was admitted to Harvard University as a member of the Class of '45, before World War II interrupted his studies. Called into active service in January of 1943, he served as a B-17 G Pilot with the 407th Squad of the 92nd Bomb Group (Fame's Favored Few) with the 8th Air Force and was stationed in Poddington, England. Victor flew 35 high altitude missions over Germany; was shot down over Cologne on January 28th, 1945; was captured by the Germans and imprisoned in Stalag Luft (III) before he escaped to Allied territory. He earned a Distinguished Flying Cross, 2 Purples Hearts and an Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters (representing six major battles) for his wartime service. After the war, Victor completed his Harvard degree. Later, he worked at Brown & Thompson Department Store as Buyer and Manager of Major Appliances, while attending law school evenings at the University of Connecticut, graduating with a J.D. in 1951. He founded Dowling & Dowling, Attorneys-at-Law - a general law practice that thrived for over 50 years - first at 3 Lewis Street in Hartford and, later, at 987 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury. Some of the offices he held throughout his career were Republican Town Chairman, West Hartford, CT; corporation counsel, Town of West Hartford; president, Officers Club of Connecticut; member, Board of Advisors, Mt. St. Joseph Academy; member, Board of Governors, Old Lyme, CT, chairman, Armed Forces Day Committee; trustee, St. Mary's Home; State Trial Referee. For the last twenty years, he lived in Vero Beach, FL, where he was an active member of Holy Cross Church. He enjoyed bridge and played golf regularly at Orchid Island Beach and Tennis Club and Quail Valley Golf Club, where he also watched the annual Harvard-Yale Football game on TV with great relish. Victor was actively involved in the Orchid Island Condominium Association.
He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 41 years, Mary G. Dowling; children, Victor J. Dowling, Jr. and his wife, Jody, of CT, Dirk R. Dreux and his wife, Mimi, of CT, Mark S. Dreux and his wife, Joan, of VA, Diane D. Smith and her husband, Leonard, of Spain as well as by his brothers, Vincent J. Dowling, Esq. of FL and Gregory F. Dowling of CT.
He was predeceased by his first wife, Ruth Decker Martell, as well as by his siblings, Donald H. Dowling, Esq. of Avon, CT, Gerard J. Dowling, Esq. of Old Lyme, CT, Kevin V. Dowling, M.D., Joan A. Dowling and Denise A. Dowling - all of West Hartford, CT. His grandchildren are Victor James, III, Alison, Caitlin and John Dowling of CT, Mary Brooke and Virginia Dreux of CT, Mark S., Jr. and his wife, Molly, of VA, Erin, Peter and Caitlyn Dreux of VA and two great-grandchildren, Lillie Kate and Charlotte Dreux of VA.
Calling hours are from 3 to 7p.m. Sunday, Sep 19th, at the Vincent Funeral Home, 880 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury, CT. The funeral will be Monday, Sep 20th, 11a.m. at St. Catherine of Siena Church, 265 Stratton Brook Road in West Simsbury, CT. Burial with military honors will be in Fairview Cemetery in West Hartford, CT. The family deeply appreciates the sensitivity, skill and dedication of all the doctors, nurses and staff at the Chawla Cardiac Pavilion and the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at St. Francis Hospital.
In 1930, he moved with his family to Hartford, CT, where he attended St. Augustine School and Bulkeley High School, Class of 1941. He was admitted to Harvard University as a member of the Class of '45, before World War II interrupted his studies. Called into active service in January of 1943, he served as a B-17 G Pilot with the 407th Squad of the 92nd Bomb Group (Fame's Favored Few) with the 8th Air Force and was stationed in Poddington, England. Victor flew 35 high altitude missions over Germany; was shot down over Cologne on January 28th, 1945; was captured by the Germans and imprisoned in Stalag Luft (III) before he escaped to Allied territory. He earned a Distinguished Flying Cross, 2 Purples Hearts and an Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters (representing six major battles) for his wartime service. After the war, Victor completed his Harvard degree. Later, he worked at Brown & Thompson Department Store as Buyer and Manager of Major Appliances, while attending law school evenings at the University of Connecticut, graduating with a J.D. in 1951. He founded Dowling & Dowling, Attorneys-at-Law - a general law practice that thrived for over 50 years - first at 3 Lewis Street in Hartford and, later, at 987 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury. Some of the offices he held throughout his career were Republican Town Chairman, West Hartford, CT; corporation counsel, Town of West Hartford; president, Officers Club of Connecticut; member, Board of Advisors, Mt. St. Joseph Academy; member, Board of Governors, Old Lyme, CT, chairman, Armed Forces Day Committee; trustee, St. Mary's Home; State Trial Referee. For the last twenty years, he lived in Vero Beach, FL, where he was an active member of Holy Cross Church. He enjoyed bridge and played golf regularly at Orchid Island Beach and Tennis Club and Quail Valley Golf Club, where he also watched the annual Harvard-Yale Football game on TV with great relish. Victor was actively involved in the Orchid Island Condominium Association.
He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 41 years, Mary G. Dowling; children, Victor J. Dowling, Jr. and his wife, Jody, of CT, Dirk R. Dreux and his wife, Mimi, of CT, Mark S. Dreux and his wife, Joan, of VA, Diane D. Smith and her husband, Leonard, of Spain as well as by his brothers, Vincent J. Dowling, Esq. of FL and Gregory F. Dowling of CT.
He was predeceased by his first wife, Ruth Decker Martell, as well as by his siblings, Donald H. Dowling, Esq. of Avon, CT, Gerard J. Dowling, Esq. of Old Lyme, CT, Kevin V. Dowling, M.D., Joan A. Dowling and Denise A. Dowling - all of West Hartford, CT. His grandchildren are Victor James, III, Alison, Caitlin and John Dowling of CT, Mary Brooke and Virginia Dreux of CT, Mark S., Jr. and his wife, Molly, of VA, Erin, Peter and Caitlyn Dreux of VA and two great-grandchildren, Lillie Kate and Charlotte Dreux of VA.
Calling hours are from 3 to 7p.m. Sunday, Sep 19th, at the Vincent Funeral Home, 880 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury, CT. The funeral will be Monday, Sep 20th, 11a.m. at St. Catherine of Siena Church, 265 Stratton Brook Road in West Simsbury, CT. Burial with military honors will be in Fairview Cemetery in West Hartford, CT. The family deeply appreciates the sensitivity, skill and dedication of all the doctors, nurses and staff at the Chawla Cardiac Pavilion and the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at St. Francis Hospital.
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