Kendall Dow

Kendall Dow led a simple life. As a very salt of the earth kind of person, he was a hard worker even from his earliest moments. The man Kendall grew into reflected this fact, as he was a stable, thorough and dependable person people were truly proud to know.

The early 1920s were a collage of interesting events. There were power struggles in Russia, Babe Ruth was setting baseball records and the first Miss America was crowned. But for most of the people living in the farming community of Sunfield, Michigan, such happenings were nothing more than headlines in a newspaper. Their lives centered around raising their families and earning a living. This was the life of C. Kenneth and Hildreth (Bishop) Dow. The Dows owned an eighty-acre farm where they harvested just about everything. In the spring of 1920, the couple was not only preparing the fields for planting, but they were also awaiting the birth of their second child. On March 4th, their son Kendall made his arrival into the world.

Along with his three brothers, Kendall grew up with an appreciation for hard work. By five, he was responsible for milking the cows twice a day, and when the Great Depression hit, he helped his father plow the fields with horses instead of tractors, since fuel was so costly. Kendall was pretty small built as a teenager, weighing in at some 90 lbs., but this was a great asset to him when it came to playing basketball. Kendall holds the record at Sunfield High School for scoring 38 points in one game. He also excelled as a pitcher in baseball and played in several of the city leagues. After graduating from Sunfield High in 1937, Kendall shoveled coal for $3/day. He then went to work with his Uncle Carl Moore at Kozy Coach in Kalamazoo. With his uncle's encouragement, Kendall also pursued learning the skills of a sheet metal worker.

In 1942, Kendall received his draft notice from the U.S. Army during World War II, and proudly served for three years, ten months and twenty-two days in the Army Aircorp where he put to work his skills as a sheet metal worker repairing airplanes. While stationed in Italy, Kendall would literally fly through town on a motorcycle, which he fueled with airplane fuel for a "quick" vino run. During his time in the service, Kendall continued to foster a blossoming relationship with his girlfriend back home named Ruah McIntyre. Ruah was from the town of Mulliken, which was just about six miles from Sunfield, and she often said "Mulliken was full of girls and Sunfield was full of boys..." During his time overseas, Ruah faithfully wrote to him every day, a total of some 900 letters! Three days after Kendall returned to the states and before he could learn there was a shortage of men, he and Ruah were married at her parents' home on June 14, 1945.

After Kendall received his honorable discharge, the couple moved to Kalamazoo, where they would raise their six children together. Kendall eventually went to work at the Sutherland Paper Co. as a millwright and remained a dedicated employee here for 33 years. While Kendall was busy supporting their family, Ruah had her hands full at home with six children and a household to run. Yet, she only needed to remind the boys with "wait until your father comes home" in order for them to straighten up. In 1956, Kendall and Ruah moved their family to their country home on KL Avenue, which was built in 1858 and they still call home today.

Kendall was a man of many talents, but was particularly passionate about gardening, farming and fabrication. He had a true green thumb and his garden boasted of beautiful gladiolas, raspberries and the best vegetables around. When it came to being a craftsman, Kendall was meticulous in every detail, and always resourceful. He enjoyed cutting wood and he used his crafty skills helping Tiller International rebuild the big wooden horse drawn logging wheels as well as taught woodworking in 4-H. He also served on the Oshtemo School Board. Kendall was never idle, if he wasn't working to earn a living, he was enjoying the activities that brought him great peace, like fishing or camping in northern Michigan. He also enjoyed snowmobiling, plowing snow with his dozer he called "Clee" and farming with his tractor named "Betsy." As a loyal fan of baseball, Kendall always had a game on, whether he watched it on TV or listened to a game on the radio. Kendall took great pride in his sons and they shared his love of baseball. He spent many summer evenings coaching their teams and watching them play. In the summer, there wasn't anything better than having a barbeque with the family and a baseball game played in the side yard. Included in the family get togethers was always their family dog, which for the last 13 years was "Harry", who just adored Kendall. In the last few years, Kendall enjoyed donning his straw cowboy hat and mounting his trusty scooter to visit neighbors and charm the ladies at Corning 's Greenhouse. Kendall will be deeply missed yet frequently remembered by all who knew and loved him.

Kendall L. Dow of Kalamazoo, MI, passed away November 16, 2006, at Bronson Hospital. A service to honor his life will be held on Saturday, November 18, at 2:00 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler-Stadium Drive, 6080 Stadium Drive (375-2900). Following the service, you can view his Life Story Film and visit with his friends and family with light refreshments that will be shared in the Life Story Center at the funeral home. Private interment will take place at West Oshtemo Cemetery.

Kendall was preceded in death by his brothers, Karl and Elwyn Dow, and his son, Lynwood Dow. Along with his wife, Ruah, he is survived by 5 children: Sandra (David) Clapp of Oklahoma City, OK, Marvin Dow of Lawton, Sheila (Glenn) Thompson of Howell, MI, Kenneth (Elizabeth) Dow of Portage, Thomas (Sharon) Dow of Mattawan; 10 grandchildren: Todd (JaNae) Clapp of Oklahoma City, Brian (Katherine) Clapp of Wichita, KS, Kevin (Laura) Osborne of Kalamazoo, Katelyn Davault of Kalamazoo, Heather (Jacob) Bolton of Antioch, TN, Cory Thompson of Muncie, IN, Russell Dow of Portage, Susan Dow of Kalamazoo, Corey Collins of Orlando, FL, Kira Dow of Kalamazoo; 5 great grandchildren: Andrew, Nicole, Nicholas, Rachel and Kristen; 1 brother, Durwood (Ardyth) Dow of Sunfield, MI; and many nieces and nephews. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a favorite memory of Kendall or sign the online guestbook. Memorial contributions may be made to Tiller International or Loaves and Fishes.