Charles H. Dowd October 27, 1927 - March 23, 2019

HAVERHILL – Charles H. Dowd, 91, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, March 23, 2019.

Charlie was the son of the late Michael and Mary (Sullivan) Dowd, and the loving brother of the late Martin Dowd and Maureen (Dowd) Greene.

Charlie had three great loves in his life: his family, his church, and the U.S. Marine Corps. A proud WWII veteran, he was a Corporal who served aboard the USS Alabama and O.H. Ernst. He was a celebrated sharp-shooter and one of the first to respond after the bombing of Hiroshima.

After his service was complete, he returned home to Haverhill and his family’s summer home on Country Pond in Newton, NH. It was there that he met the love of his life, Mary Lois “Mickey” Leary, to whom he was married for 53 years until her passing in 2006. He became the son they never had to her parents, Jean and Ed Leary.

Charlie and Mickey raised their three daughters in Ipswich and Haverhill. He was a self-employed delivery man for many years, and his favorite job was working for Flowers by Steve in Ward Hill, because he loved putting a smile on people’s faces and seeing the happy brides and new parents.

Charlie’s greatest joy came from the simple things in life: a good book, “Vermont” dinners, traveling the world with his wife, breakfasts with his grandchildren, annual visits to see A Christmas Carol at the North Shore Music Theatre, playing Santa on Christmas morning, the New England Patriots, and most of all, spending time with his family. He was a kind, generous man with a bottomless heart and his compassion and sense of humor will be missed by many.

Charlie is survived by his children, Patricia Wholley & her husband Kevin of Methuen, Sharon Knox and Sheila Dowd of Haverhill. He was the best Grampy in the world to Lauren (Wholley) Marquis & her husband Steve of Haverhill, Katie Knox & her partner David Aronofsky of Wilmington, Sean Wholley & his fiancé Kelly Farragher of Methuen , Jenny Knox of Hampton, NH and Erin Wholley & her partner Andy Devlin of Methuen. He was a loving great grandfather to Dylan and Chase Marquis. He also leaves behind his best friend, Max the cat.