Edwin (Ed) Richard McDowell

 

Edwin (Ed) Richard McDowell

Commonly referred to as “Ed” or “Rich”, Rich was born in southern Ohio in Pike County to Edwin and Helen (Smith) McDowell. Ed also had a sibling named Tom who passed away in 2014.

Early Life

Born in Pike County OH, He went on to marry Alice McDowell and live in Pike for a time. When the GM Foundry in Defiance OH opened, the couple moved to Defiance for employment. Rich and Alice went on to have three children: Lora, Rick, and Adam.

One of the couple’s properties, a Lucasville home can be seen on the edge of the Scioto River, Alice once stated that the basement of the house would flood when the river was up, and that she could hear the water at night (Pictured Right). This house was purchased on behalf of Rich’s father so that he would have a place to stay in his elderly years.

 

Fun Fact: When he was 17, Rich attempted to register for the draft. During this attempt he discovered that he was 17 and not 18 as he had previously thought.

The Singing McDowells

During his working life, he brought his family together for musical gigs at churches where they were known as “The McDowell Family”. Over the years they performed at many churches and even maintained their own private bus for transporting their equipment. The group also produced several records (Pictured Right) and saw good success in the Northwest Ohio region. This group name was later modified by his son Rick who later continued the family band as “The Singing McDowells”.

GM Electrician

During his time at the GM Foundry, Rich worked as an Electrician. He maintained critical equipment for the foundry that included different types of pouring equipment and line controls.

Rich’s Car Collection
During his employment he also came into possession of two Bremen Motorsports factory-built kit cars, the “Mini Mark” and the “Maxi Taxi” of which he has made multiple road trips in and often takes to car shows. In the picture to the Right, Rich can be seen with Rick, his son, and their kit cars (Pictured Right).

He also later came into possession of his 1978 25^th Anniversary edition corvette which he worked on until parking and later gifting to his grandson Caleb McDowell (Pictured Right).

Fun Fact: For Rich’s birthday, his family all chipped in for a NASCAR car ride trip in which suited up and rode around the track (Pictured Above Left).

Post GM Retirement Work and Current Home

Rich worked after his GM retirement as a bus driver for the local rest home. He would also perform musical shows at the rest home, often these shows would include comedic elements such as his famous Elvis Presley Impersonation.

Rich currently resides in Defiance Ohio at the family home (Pictured Right), he enjoys fishing and traveling with Alice McDowell.