Melvin Lee Dowdy, 82, of Collins Avenue in Pembroke departed this life Thursday afternoon, December 20, 2007, in Roanoke Memorial Hospital in Roanoke. Born in Pembroke on July 10, 1925, he was a son of the late William H. and Nora Lee Dowdy. Melvin was a veteran of the U S Army, WW II, and was retired from Foote Mineral Co. at Kimballton. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Billy Dowdy and Dave Dowdy and sisters Lillian Ratcliff and Irene Dowdy Cumbee, and a step-son Randy Link.

He leaves to cherish his memory his wife Elizabeth Gordon Dowdy; a son and daughter-in-law Michael and Brenda Dowdy of Pembroke; step-daughters Carolyn Link and Mary Davis both of Pembroke; four step-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted Sunday at 2:00 PM in The Kendall Funeral Home at 605 Snidow St. in Pembroke with burial following at Birchlawn Burial Park in Pearisburg. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Saturday evening from 6 to 8 PM. Online condolences may be sent by visiting kendallfuneralhome.com.