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Jasper has lost a true gentleman.
The flag was lowered at Jasper Legion last week in memory of Bob Dowling, who died on March 4 at 94 years old.
Dowling, a lifelong member of the Legion, was “an amazing man who had a wonderful life with many adventures.”
Robert Wagner Dowling was born in Camrose, Alberta on September 28, 1924, the son of Harold James Dowling and Emma Maude Wagner.
He was educated in Camrose, at the University of British Columbia and at the University of Alberta, where he graduated in 1955 with a BSc. in pharmacy.
Dowling was a pilot for the Royal Canadian Air Force’s #418 Squadron during the war years, 1942 to 1945, before working as a pharmacist, and later a member of the Legislature of Alberta.
Dowling married Olga Louise Yewchin in 1952 and they had two children, Lori and Robert.
They moved to Jasper in 1958 and Dowling was always very involved in the community.
He volunteered with boy scouts, air cadets, the fire brigade, the Seton Hospital, Jasper School Board, and the chamber of commerce. He was also a member of the Kiwanis, Lions, and Rotary Clubs and the Masonic Lodge.
Dowling spent 77 years of his life in dedicated service to veterans, their families and his community. He and Olga were married for 66 of them.
Paul Godbout, president of the Jasper branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, said: “Comrade Bob Dowling had a wonderful way about him, he had the respect of all, and he will be dearly missed.
“Our sympathies and condolences to Olga, his family, friends, and comrades on behalf of the Royal Canadian Legion.”
Godbout said that even recently, Dowling inspired those at the Legion to continue to do “great Legion things” - talking with younger veterans and continuing that lifelong support.
He said: “It became a matter of honour and tradition that visiting veterans, and current serving members of the Canadian Military had to meet Bob during Remembrance Day.
“His smile, knowledge, and gentle manner always brought a smile to those men and women.
“Folks who have been on those missions overseas, and done the hard work of soldiering, with their hard eyes, tattoos, and beer mugs, would sit down with him and become the little ones sitting with their elder, they too became gentler at those moments as well.
“Many Veterans of Afghanistan, Iraq, United Nations Missions, would relate how they got to meet Bob.
“His and Olga's presence on those occasions were always treasured.”
Jasper Mayor Richard Ireland also reminisced about Dowling’s involvement in Remembrance Day.
“I remember his dignity and presence every year at the Remembrance service,” he said. “It was significant to him. He was not a showman, just a very gentle and humble man.”
Ireland said Dowling was “one of those individuals I think can best and most fairly be described as a gentleman.”
“He just had that measure of gentleness, politeness, dignity and all those things that make a gentleman. He was every bit of that in every encounter I had with him.”
Dowling had a role to in provincial politics in the late ‘60s and ‘70s and was the provincial ambassador at the Expo in Vancouver in ’86.
He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1969 to 1979, sitting as a member of the Progressive Conservative caucus. He served as minister for business development and tourism, and consumer affairs, for Premier Peter Lougheed.
Ireland said: “Personally for me, he was always very respectful and a bit of a mentor, particularly in the days struggling with local autonomy and local government.
“He was very supportive of the cause and I knew I always could turn to him.”
A celebration of Dowling's life will take place in the spring.
