Dwayne Dupree Dowdell

DWAYNE DUPREE DOWDELL, was a husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend to many. Dwayne was born December 28, 1962, in Columbus, Ohio, to William and Ruth (née Balkcom) Dowdell. He departed this life at age 61 at Grant Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, on March 30, 2024. Dwayne excepted Christ at a young age. While attending high school, Dwayne learned to play the drums, and he played for local events and churches. Dwayne attended Columbus Public Schools; Koebel Elementary and Berry Junior High, and he graduated from Marion Franklin High School.

Dwayne was formerly employed by Kroger’s grocery store and Ezzo Sausage Company. At age 19, he utilized his early experience and skills as a member of Franklin County’s Conservation Corp to become one of the founders of the Capital Construction Company. He and other workers took on small jobs to help the community and grow their young company.

Dwayne loved to read newspapers to his children, and he often read sacred books about God. His oldest daughter, Dannetta, remembers fondly the beautiful letters he’d written her, always referring to her as his Nubian Princess.  His older sister, Beverly, remembers how Dwayne left holes in the walls in the lower-level family room of her home while practicing his skating techniques. However, Dwayne became an exceptional roller skater and was known for commandeering and cutting up his young niece’s skates to accommodate his generous size twelve feet. His niece, Kennetta, thought these self-designed, duct-taped, yet open-toed skates, were trash and almost lost her life when she disposed of them, and her uncle was not very forgiving of this offense. Dwayne’s son, Lil Dwayne, and his sister, Darla, often went skating with their father. As they circled the rink, Dwayne followed behind them, scooped them up one in each arm, and made a complete circle around the rink that sparked great joy from the experience.

Dwayne always enjoyed spending a day fishing at Hoover Dam with his brothers, Bill and Dana. It was always a competitive, “I caught more fish than you did,” or, “my fish is bigger than your fish” with these brothers. His sister, Carol, remembers Dwayne this way: “Just watching his eyes sparkle and twinkle when he smiled at you, which made you know he saw you and cared about you.” Another niece, Kimberly remembers her uncles, Dwayne and Dana, taking her swimming at Marion Franklin Swimming Pool, to the recreation center for lunch, and then off they went to the corner store on Lockbourne Road for additional snacks. Gayle fondly remembers the Sundays Dwayne would call and proudly proclaim that “I’m at church Sis.” She would encourage him to attend the next Sunday. He responded, “No doubt, I can’t make it without the Lord.” He would end the conversation by asking, “you got my number? I love you sis. I’ll be in touch.” Dwayne was his own man and he moved to his own rhythm. He was a different kind of guy who embraced his differences, and he was a man comfortable in his own skin.

Dwayne is survived by his former wife Carla McCarroll, the mother of his two loving daughters, Dannetta (Andreus) Trout, Sr., and Darla McCarroll of Columbus, Ohio; sons, Dwayne Dowdell of Ruskin, Florida, and Davion Dowdell, Columbus, Ohio; five grandchildren, Trineti Trout, Andreus Trout, Jr., Jeremiah Trout, Mercy Trout, and Elyjah McCarroll, all of Columbus, Ohio; two brothers, William Dowdell and Dana (Nina) Dowdell, both of Columbus, Ohio; three sisters, Beverly Starghill, Gayle (Harriston) Wilson of Columbus, Ohio, and Carol Dowdell of Decatur, Georgia; brother-in-law, Glen (Roberta) Ellis; nieces and nephews, Kennetta, Nikki, Kimberly, Rana, Richard, Brandon (Jennifer) W., Raegan, LaToya (Charles), LaTonya, Kadeem, Nia, Brandon E., and Eboni (Korrion), all of Columbus, Ohio; cousins, Evelyn Marshall, Lois Wilson, Joseph (Jo-Carolyn) Dowdell, Jr., all of Columbus, Georgia, Benjamin Dowdell, Brenda Dowdell, and Michelle Dowdell all of Hartford, Connecticut, Alisha (Michael) Smith of Kingston, Jamaica, Dorothy Breland, Anita Barron of Americus, Georgia, Machelle Jackson, Tiffany Jackson, and Tracy Weatherspoon, all of Columbus, Ohio; and many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Ruth Dowdell, and two older brothers, Henry Lee Dowdell and Henry Balkcom Dowdell.

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