Michael L. Dowden

December 27, 2018

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Michael L. Dowden, 73, of Frankfort, died December 27, 2018 at St. Elizabeth Franciscan Health, Lafayette, Ind.  He was born April 14, 1945 in Frankfort, Ind. to Virgil & Lola (Spencer) Dowden.  His first marriage was to Chris Kinderman.  He then married Sara Scott Rumpza in 1986 and she survives.

Mike was a 1964 graduate of Frankfort High School and a life long Frankfort resident.  A veteran of the U.S. Army, he served in Vietnam in the 14th Engineer Battalion.   He owned/operated Dowden’s Bucket Truck Service and retired from Indiana Bell/Ameritech after 32 years.  Michael was a member of the Moose Lodge #7, American Legion, VFW, and Beard Masonic Lodge.

Visitation and Services

Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Friday, January 4, 2019 at Goodwin Funeral Home, 200 S. Main St., Frankfort, IN. A Celebration of Life will be 1-4 p.m. Saturday, January 5th, 2019 at the Moose Lodge, 2880 E. Wabash St, Frankfort, IN. Private burial will be in Green Lawn Memorial Park. Memorial donations may be made to the Clinton County Humane Society.

Survived by:

Wife: Sara Dowden of Frankfort, Daughter: Tiffany Kidd of South Carolina, Son: Michael L. Dowden Jr. of North Carolina, Step Son: Jeffrey Scott (Debbie) Rumpza of Lafayette, Step Daughter: Jennifer S. Rumpza of Boston, MA, Brother: Bill (Marybeth) Dowden of Kokomo, 8 Grandchildren, Jacob, Trenton, Alexis, Jamie Lee, Madison, Ally, Chloe and Sam, and Scrabble, his favorite cat.

Preceded by:

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Chylene Troxel and siblings, Nancy Spray, Karen Roberts and Pat Dowden.

Memorial Video

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Condolences

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21 Condolences for “Michael L. Dowden”

  1. Kim Ashlock December 28, 2018 at 10:06 pm

    So sorry for your loss. Mike was a great man. I have known for many years, full of knowledge, he was a joy to be around. I will miss seeing him at the Tobacco store & at The Roscommon

    Reply
  2. Jeff Hurless December 28, 2018 at 10:06 pm

    So very sorry for your loss. We send our hugs for you.

    Reply
  3. Deborrah Burgess December 29, 2018 at 8:58 am

    Sara, I am so very sorry to hear this, I was in shock when I found out! I will be praying for you & all the family but please know I would be there if I could but I just got back from Wyoming visiting Michael for the holiday the very day he passed & can’t get the time off of work! Sara, God Speed my friend! I will call you soon. Love, Debi

    Reply
  4. Samantha Moore December 29, 2018 at 12:50 pm

    So sorry for your loss. Mike was a very dear friend of mine. He was known by everyone that new him. Sending my prayers to you an the family.

    Reply
  5. Mary Richards December 29, 2018 at 1:32 pm

    Sara,
    So sorry to hear about Mike’s passing. We will be praying for you and family.

    Reply
  6. Jim Strode December 29, 2018 at 1:45 pm

    So sorry Sara and all the family. Mike and I had a lot of fun together and would help anyone out that needed it . Mike had a very likable way with everyone and a huge heart. He put in many hours helping out make our Moose Lodge 7 . It wouldn’t be the lodge it is today if it wasn’t for Mikes time and effort he put into the lodge. He truly loved the Moose Lodge 7 and the members truly loved Mike and he will truly be missed buy all I’m proud to call Mike my friend and brother. Rest in peace and i know you will make heaven a fun time with you just being you.

    Reply
  7. Ellen Kingery Hurt December 29, 2018 at 3:19 pm

    Tiffany, sorry to hear of your dad’s passing. I met him a handful of times and he was always entertaining. My thoughts and prayers are with you and the family.

    Reply
  8. Cyndia Jones December 29, 2018 at 9:06 pm

    I’m so sorry Sara for your loss, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

    Reply
  9. Becky Howe December 30, 2018 at 10:18 am

    We are so sorry to learn of Mikes passing. I graduated from high school with Mike, and he was always a friend wearing a smile and a hello to all. Roger grew up in the same neighborhood as Mike and played baseball with him. Blessings to his family.
    Becky Swan Howe

    Reply
  10. Lynn F Scott December 30, 2018 at 10:53 am

    Sara,
    I just learned of Mike’ death and I am so sorry. Please accept my concern for your family.

    Reply
  11. Phyllis Shearer December 30, 2018 at 4:11 pm

    I am very sorry to hear of Mike’s passing. We were classmates graduating in 1964, and Mike was always pleasant to be around. With sympathy, Phyllis Adair Shearer

    Reply
  12. Sheri Thorne December 30, 2018 at 8:57 pm

    Didn’t see you all often, but you all are always in my thoughts. But then, you meet Mike once and he’s a friend for life. Thoughts and prayers to the family.

    Reply
  13. Paul Ash December 31, 2018 at 10:09 am

    So sorry to learn of Mike’s passing. I remember Mike well as a fair, fun, strong and always interesting classmate. Was he strong? Yes, his arms were bigger than my legs. He truly earned his letter jacket which several classmates remember him wearing to our reunions. Now that is an accomplishment. How many 64 Hot Dogs could wear anything from our HS years? That is an unfair question, Mike will be well remembered and missed.

    Reply
  14. Shiela Scott December 31, 2018 at 11:23 am

    Sara and family.. Love and prayers for you all..

    Reply
  15. Ruth (MCCoskey) Wilson December 31, 2018 at 3:02 pm

    Condolences to Mike’s family, and the friends to whom he was close.I graduated with Mike in ’64, and can still hear his laugh. He was a friend, a confidant, and true to who he was. Healing prayers to his family.
    Rest in peace my friend.

    Reply
  16. Diana Collins Cochran December 31, 2018 at 3:29 pm

    Mike was one of my favorite high school classmates. Mike always seemed genuine and friendly to all. I remember laughing with him at our last class reunion. He wore his Frankfort letter jacket, which was quite impressive. Mike also shared with us that many girls wore his jacket back in the day. That would be a Mike statement. Rest In Peace friend. Prayers to the family.

    Reply
  17. Michael Shelley January 1, 2019 at 6:02 pm

    Sorry for your loss. I grew up next door to Mike and we played many different games , sports with all the neighbor kids. Mike and I both played football though Mike was a couple years ahead of me. Just wanted to express my sorrow for your loss yet offer some of my memories.
    Sincerely,
    Mike Shelley
    Kenly , NC

    Reply
  18. Linda Perry Carroll January 2, 2019 at 12:05 pm

    I remember Mike so well. I’ve reminded both him and Sara of how he used to love freaking everyone out by turning his upper eyelids inside out! Yelping, thinking of it now!!! He was always fun and always wanted everyone else to have fun. Having been away from Frankfort for so many years, I was surprised but very pleased to hear that he and Sara got married. She and I were very close in high school. I pray that anyone still in Frankfort will reach out to Sara and do what they can to make her days ahead a little easier. I wish I could be there. Can’t think about Mike without smiling. That’s how I remember him.

    Reply
  19. Pam and Mike Campbell January 2, 2019 at 4:55 pm

    The video tribute to Mike had us both in tears. It was so touching to see this well-remembered old friend enjoying a life full of love and family. His face through the years was so handsome! We saw Mike very rarely after high school but are glad to have been at the 50th reunion with him in 2014. It’s great that he treasured his F-jacket! We will treasure his memory. R.I.P.

    Reply
  20. Keiston R. Holloway January 4, 2019 at 12:09 pm

    On behalf of the comrades and sisters of the department of Indiana, you have our deepest condolences for the loss of your loved one and our departed comrade. Our prayers are with you all. Sincerely, Veterans of Foreign Wars of Indiana State Chaplain Keiston R. Holloway.

    Reply
  21. Paul Schutte January 4, 2019 at 1:59 pm

    I met Mike at the Moose Lodge here in Frankfort. He was the organizer of the Horseshoe League. He was very good at rounding up all the guys to get things organized and in order to have a GREAT time. He was a riot to pitch shoes against, always a good sportsman, and willing to help anyone who asked. He will be missed in this community, I pray for his family during this difficult time of loss. I look forward to pitching shoes with him in Heaven. God Bless You all.

    Reply

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