George "Papa" B. McDowell

George "Papa" B. McDowell, 84, of Pate Street, Carlsbad, New Mexico, passed away Sunday, December 9, 2012 at Carlsbad Medical Center. There will be no visitation. Funeral services are scheduled for Thursday, December 13, 2012, 11:00 AM, at Blodgett Street Baptist Church with Pastor David Prell officiating. Interment will be held in East Memorial Gardens, Texarkana, Arkansas. Carlsbad Veterans Honor Guard will provide military honors. Denton-Wood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. George "Papa" B. McDowell was born December 11, 1927 in Texarkana, Arkansas to James Thomas and Martha Cleo (Ogdon) McDowell. He served in the U.S. Army for three years. He found his passion for cooking while serving in the military. George loved to travel, fish and explore new places. George was passionate about Guadalupe Christian Church Camp in Queen, New Mexico. He and other church members were instrumental in establishing the camp. George spent his vacations at the camp and loved to help cook for many camp functions. He retired in 1984 from Hobbs Trailers in Fort Worth, Texas. George was also passionate about his Lord and his family. He loved worshipping with his church family and could not spend enough time with family and friends. He devoted himself to reading and studying the Bible and witnessing to all with whom he came in contact. He was preceded in death by his wife, Katherine Lucille (Marshall) McDowell; parents, James T. "Jimmy" McDowell and Martha Cleo (Ogden) McDowell Page; step-father, Clyde Page; two brothers: James E. McDowell, Raymond and wife, Mary Lou McDowell, three sisters: Norene Thomas, Ruth Boyer, Bernice Whetstone and husband, Roy; two brothers-in-law: Tillman Huett and Clayton Crysel. Survivors are his wife, Betty of Carlsbad, NM; three daughters: Kathleen Huff and husband Tom of Carlsbad, NM, Deborah Smith of Carlsbad, NM, Patsy Widener and husband, Robert of Carlsbad, NM; seven grandchildren: Alison Jenkins and husband, Bill, Amy Chavez and husband, Gilbert, Georgenna Keenom and husband, Rick, Amber Leyva and husband, Leon, Samantha Smith, Mollie Widener, Wyatt Widener; 11 great-grandchildren: Jacquelyn Wachholz, Kadee Wachholz, Zackary Hackler, Alexandra Hackler, Gabriel Chavez, Raynbow Smith, McKenna Smith, Evan Smith, Alayna Keenom, Jake Keenom, Jaci Leyva; two brothers: Sherman McDowell and wife, Doris of Sweeney, TX, Glen Dale McDowell and wife, Johnnie of Atlanta, TX; four sisters: Jerolyn Duren and husband, Lonnie of Hooks, TX, Naomi Allen and husband, Jimmie of Texarkana, TX, Grace Huett and Mellow Lou Crysel of Texarkana, Arkansas and brothers-in-law: Dayton Boyer of Lafayette, Louisiana and Bill Thomas of Fouke, Arkansas. Pallbearers will be Tom Huff, Rick Keenom, Bill Jenkins, Leon Leyva, Gilbert Chavez, Les Pierce, Robert Widener, Will McCullough and David Bryant. In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials be made to Blodgett Street Baptist Church, c/o Lottie Moon Missions, 1500 West Blodgett Street, Carlsbad, NM 88220. Condolences may be expressed at dentonwood.com.