Richard Wilmer McDowell, aged 88 years, passed away peacefully on November 15, 2025.
A Fortuna resident for over 22 years, Richard originally hailed from Marion, Iowa. He and his wife Lee lived and worked in Southern California before moving to Fortuna in retirement.
Richard was a US Navy veteran, a teacher of Spanish and Social Science, an artist, a musician, a doer of good deeds nd a connoisseur of free time.
He was an avid ukelele player and taught ukelele classes at the Fortuna Senior Center. He also emceed the Fortuna Senior Center “Open Mic” events for five years. He was a birder and he and his wife participated in the Blue Bird recovery program in Orange County. As a skilled model boat builder he was recognized and awarded at the Humboldt County Fair.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Ligia “Lee” McDowell; his son, Richard E. McDowell and his wife Jessica; daughter Maria “Maggie” Gray; grandson Amir Gholizadeh and his finance, Stephanie Valle and granddaughter, Sarah Reyes; and his sister, Pat Wiedenman of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
He loved his family, and Fortuna, very much.
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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Richard McDowell’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.
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