Former Arlington resident Norton H. Dowling, 88, died Sunday, Aug. 14, 2005, at the Fremont Area Medical Center.

Funeral services were Wednesday, Aug. 17, at the First United Methodist Church in Fremont. Interment was at the Randolph Cemetery, with military graveside services conducted by the Randolph VFW Post.

Norton H. Dowling was born June 11, 1917, in Randolph to Herbert and Ruth (Axelson) Dowling. He grew up in Randolph, and then served in the United States Army during World War II, from March 28, 1942, until Jan. 20, 1946. After he was discharged from the Army, he farmed near Randolph before moving to Bennet in 1971. In Bennet, he worked at the Hill Hatchery. He moved to Waverly in 1976, and retired in 1982 and moved to Arlington. He was most recently living at Shalimar Gardens in Fremont. On Jan. 18, 1947, he married Velma L. Cunningham at Randolph.

He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Fremont, and was a former member of the VFW Post of Randolph.

He is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law, “Junior” Norton and Patricia Dowling of Belle Fourche, S.D., Roger and Susan Dowling and Bryan and Cindy Dowling, all of Fremont; three daughters and sons-in-law, Patricia Auch of Omaha, and Connie and Wayne Hummel and Joan and Edward Ennen, all of Fremont; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Glen and Orieta Dowling of Randolph and Vernon and Doris Dowling of Syracuse; 23 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and special friend, Joanie Eggers of Fremont.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Velma, in October 1993; son, Richard; brother, Melvin Dowling; and sister, Lulu Rose Dowling.

Moser Memorial Chapel in Fremont was in charge of arrangements.

~~~Obituary courtesy of Washington County Genealogical Association; newspaper clippings on file at the Public Library, Blair, Nebraska ~~~