Richard Wilmer McDowell

Richard Wilmer McDowell, aged 88 years, passed away peacefully on November 15, 2025. A Fortuna, California 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, and a connoisseur of free time. 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.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Richard Wilmer McDowell, please visit our floral store.