Harry Dowling

Harry Dowling of Wilmington, Delaware and Cole’s Point, Virginia passed away peacefully on April 26, 2022 surrounded by his family. Harry was born in Palmetto, Florida in 1935. He was raised in Jackson, Mississippi where he attended Forrest Hill School, graduating in 1953 with perfect marks. During his senior year of High School, Harry drove the school bus each day and, along with his brother Fred, did the maintenance on the old bus on weekends. Harry attended Milsaps College where he graduated with honors earning a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with minors in both Physics and Mathematics. He was named the Outstanding Graduate majoring in chemistry. Harry was then accepted at Louisiana State University graduating with an M.S. in Analytical Chemistry with a minor in Physics. Harry worked for 2 summers at the Dupont Washington Works in West Virginia where he met his future wife of 63 years Judie.

Harry began his career with Atlas Powder Co. in June of 1959 as a Lab Supervisor at the Darco Experimental Laboratory in Marshall, Texas. He and Judie welcomed their two sons, Bill and Jon while living in Marshall. In 1964 he transferred to the Chemical Engineering Labs outside of Wilmington, Delaware as a Senior Chemical Engineer. The following year he moved to the Atlas Point plant in New Castle as Chief Chemist before returning to CEL as Derivatives Project Manager.

In 1969 Harry was named first Plant Manager of the planned Stuart Pharmaceutical facility in Newark, Delaware. Prior to opening the plant Harry and his family moved to Southern California where he completed a year of training at the sister plant in Pasadena. He would comment later in life that he started the Newark manufacturing facility from “dirt”. After the successful startup of the Newark facility in 1971 Harry continued as Plant Manager until 1977. In 1977 Harry took a position as the Manager of Facilities Planning for ICI. During the time here he worked on many pharmaceutical projects around the world. One of his career highlights during this time was the implementation of the innovative automated warehousing and material handling system in the Newark plant in 1982 much of which is still in operation today. Harry retired after 34 years of service as the Manager of Engineering Services for Zeneca Pharmaceuticals.

After retiring from industry, Harry served on the Board of Directors of the International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineers. As President of ISPE for 2 years he travelled the world promoting the organization. During Harry’s tenure, ISPE expanded into Asia with the establishment of the Japan and Australia chapters and established Good Automated Manufacturing Practice (GAMP) which is still used across the pharmaceutical industry as the standard for automated systems compliance. Harry developed deep friendships with people that he met and worked with and along with his wife Judie visited many of them during their trips and hosted them on their trips to the United States.

Harry’s passion was fishing and over the years he went on over a dozen excursions to remote and exotic locations as part of a tight knit group of fishing buddies. He could fix anything and passed this talent on to his two boys. He loved playing cards despite complaints from his poker buddies that he always seemed to end up with most of the quarters.

Prior to his retirement, Harry and Judie purchased an old cabin on the Potomac River in Cole’s Point, Virginia. Harry, Judie, and his sons spent the next 20 years fixing and renovating the cabin that they then called their summer home. For over 35 years two generations of his extended family grew up spending vacations and holidays at Cole’s Point. Many of Harry’s neighbors and friends from Cole’s Point visited with him during his last days.

Harry was active in the community serving on the Board of the Heritage-Grendon Civic Association, as President of the Linden Hill Civic Association, and as Treasurer of Stenning Woods Civic Association. He served on the Lay Advisory Council of Skyline Junior High School, as Treasurer of the John Dickinson High School Athletic Boosters, and served as Chairperson on the Grandparent Committee at The Tatnall School.

Harry was a member of The International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineers, Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, and the SAR – Sons of the American Revolution. He is a past member of the American Chemistry Society, The American Institute of Chemical Engineers, and Kiwanis International. He and Judie are members of Newark United Methodist Church.

Harry was pre-deceased by his parents, Harry Ellis Dowling and Lozelle Beasley Dowling, his brother Fred Dowling, and his sister Mildred Dowling Robinson. He is survived by his wife Judie, his sons Bill and his wife Ramona, Jon and his wife Andy as well as his grandchildren Sean, Katy, Shannon and Brayden. Harry was Papa and Uncle Harry to his many grand nieces and nephews as well as his extended family.

Services will be held on Tuesday May 3^rd at Chandler Funeral Home 7230 Lancaster Pike, Hockessin DE 19707. Friends are invited to visit with Harry’s family from 9:30 -11:00 am with the service beginning at 11:00 am at Chandler Funeral Home. Burial will take place at Hockessin Friends Cemetery in Hockessin, DE.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Harry’s name may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org.