FARNHAM—Augustine “Skip” Dowds passed away on March 16, 2017, at Farnham Manor. It was also his 95th birthday.
Skip was one of six siblings born in Consett, England, and joined the RAF during World War II. He was a tail gunner on the famous Lancaster bomber and then a forward spotter, joining the second wave of “D-Day.”
He met his future wife of more than 60 years, Myola, in Washington, D.C. after the end of the European Conflict. After marrying and settling down in D.C., Skip became a court reporter and worked on “Capitol Hill,” and then moved to Salisbury, Md., serving the courts for many years after which he retired. Skip was an avid pilot and loved to fly.
In 2012, he had a severe stroke and relocated to Farnham Manor. He was always happy, optimistic, made many friends and he would always smile and say “Hi, Pal” to everyone he would meet.
He is predeceased by his wife, Myola; siblings, Gerry, James, Bill and sister Mary.
He is survived by his only child, Cheryl Dowds Budzinski, who resides in Lancaster County with husband, Buzz; and one remaining brother, John, who lives in England and Italy.
Except for Skip, all of his siblings stayed in England and he has quite a number of nephews, nieces and their growing families spread throughout the U.K.
Skip will return to Salisbury to join Myola and there will be a private memorial service there.
