Willard Palmer Gowdy

Willard Palmer Gowdy, Jr. passed away on May 9, 2018, after a long illness. Willard was an outgoing, friendly man who knew no strangers. The loves of his life were his wife Marjie Gowdy of Callaway, VA; his son Todd Gowdy and wife Lori Saunders of Amherst, VA; his four grandchildren Nathan, Sam, Cara and Luke; his son Craig Gowdy and wife Iris Gowdy of Chester, VA; his son Michael Hartley and fiancée Jessica Conway of Baskerville, VA; his daughter Mary Catherine Hartley of Roanoke, VA; his sister Lynn Byrd and husband Wesley Byrd of Dayton, TN. Willard is also survived by his stepbrothers David Kahlstorf and Dr. William Kahlstorf of Mississippi and their families. Willard was preceded in death by his father Willard Palmer Gowdy, Sr. and wife Frances Gowdy of Tupelo, Mississippi; his mother Jean Gordon Gowdy; and brother, Douglas Gordon Gowdy, all of Greenville, Mississippi. A native of Greenville, Mississippi, Willard was graduated from Greenville High School and the University of Southern Mississippi, earning a bachelor’s degree of science and two Master’s degrees. He later joined the U.S. Army, trained in the Nursing program, and started his career in anesthesia. Willard was very good at his profession and performed over 20,000 cases as a nurse anesthetist for more than 35 years, caring for his patients in the military and civilian worlds. Willard achieved the rank of Major in the U.S. Army, rising to the distinction of Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Air Force. He participated with the medical attachment to Operation Eagle Claw, the Iranian hostage rescue mission in 1980, as part of the U.S. Army Special Forces unit Delta Force. Willard also served with Special Forces units in Operation Enduring Freedom, Haiti, in 1994. Willard was a proud military member, receiving a number of military service distinctions, including the National Defense Medal, the Humanitarian Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal for Operation Eagle Claw, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal for Uphold Democracy. His passion for civil service also earned him a chairman’s position with the Giles County, Virginia, Board of Supervisors. Willard was a devout animal lover and was particularly fond of his little dogs Gizmo and Boudreaux, his Scottish Highland cattle, horse, donkey and numerous cats and goats that he and Marjie raised on their small farm in Virginia. Willard loved boating, hosting friends and family on the trawler Vagabond Shoes in the Mississippi Sound, while living in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Willard was a former member of the Biloxi Yacht Club and enjoyed many hours with great friends at the Rub Rail. Willard shared close ties with friends in the Gulf Coast region especially while working to recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, and returning to Roanoke, he was honorary member of the WHAs. Willard enjoyed sports, coaching his sons and their teams in the early years, and later traveling to watch his grandchildren participate in their events. He was an ardent Packers fan, taking a pilgrimage to Lambeau Field 20 years ago. Travel was another joy for Willard which included numerous trips to the western part of the U.S., along with multiple visits to Europe and the Caribbean. Highlights of some of his adventures included a German wedding, a Fort Lauderdale ‘Parrothead’ trip, and a Richard Petty Driving School Experience at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Family, friends and neighbors are invited to a Celebration of Life on June 9 at 2 p,m. at Willard and Marjie’s home in Callaway. Inurnment will follow at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery. Donations may be made to the Continuous Living Center at the Salem Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC), to Healing Strides of Roanoke, or Planned Pethood of Rocky Mount, Virginia. The family expresses special appreciation to the staffs of Carilion Medical Center, Catawba Hospital, and the Palliative Care and Hospice units at the Salem VAMC for their loving care over the past year. Arrangements by Conner Bowman Funeral Home & Crematory (Route 220 @ Wirtz Road) Rocky Mount. www.connerbowman.com