Marcia Dowe

On the morning of Friday, May 13, 2022, Marcia Jean Shands Dowe traveled from this life to eternity. We will miss our beloved family member, sister in Christ, and friend.

Marcia Jean Shands Dowe was born January 16, 1959, in Spartanburg, South Carolina to Marcellus Shands, Sr. and Shirley Louise Williams. She was lovingly adopted by her second mother, Joyce Shands Collie.

Marcia would say that her most treasured accomplishments were family and faith. She celebrated 37 years of marriage to Robert L. Dowe, joined March 23, 1985, and to this union two outstanding sons were born. She raised her sons to love Christ and His Church. Baptized into Christ in 1979 at the Fishinger & Kenny Church of Christ, Marcia also devoted many years of Christian service at the Genessee Avenue Church of Christ in Columbus, OH. Marcia previously participated in Youth Ministry leadership along with her husband, Robert, as well as taught Sunday school for many years. She fostered her love of gospel and song in the Voices of Charity choral ensemble.

Always an exceptional student, Marcia graduated in 1977 in the top 4 of 600 in her senior class at John F. Kennedy High School, Cleveland, Ohio. She also achieved the Bachelor of Science Degree in Microbiology from the Ohio State University in 1981. After graduation Marcia worked primarily in hospital administration at hospitals in Columbus, including her position at Grant Medical Center as a Phlebotomy Supervisor. Her most recent position was Senior Enterprise Application Analyst at the University of Toledo Medical Center where she integrated her critical scientific knowledge with information technology in the Pathology Lab. A dedicated employee and high achiever, Marcia continued to work tirelessly throughout her illness.

Marcia loved to entertain. She and Rob opened their home for many years for church get-togethers, baby showers, Mary Kay and PartyLite parties. Marcia had an endless list of interests like traveling, music concerts, and tennis, to name a few. She was an avid sports fan, especially for her Cleveland Browns and Cavaliers. She also enjoyed volunteering her service with the Special Olympics.

Marcia was preceded in death by her parents, Marcellus Shands, Sr. and Shirley Louise Williams; brother, Gerald Keith Williams; and sister, Terri Roxan Williams.

Surviving to cherish the loving memory of Marcia Shands Dowe include: husband, Robert Dowe; two sons, Ian Kyle Dowe of Orlando, FL and Niles Marcellus Dowe of Columbus, OH; stepmother, Joyce (Kelsey) Collie; twin brother, Marcellus (Shizuko) Shands of San Jose, CA; brother, James Preston (Desiree) Williams of Seattle, WA; stepsister, Regina Shands Stolzfus of Goshen, IN; half-brother, Stephen Shands of Cleveland, OH; special aunt, Mary Alice Shands of Cleveland, OH; and many other relatives and very close friends.

Visitation 11:00am and Funeral 12:00pm Friday, May 27, 2022 at Church of Christ, 1889 Genessee Ave.

Interment at Glen Rest Memorial Estates.