Obituary of Ida Mae Dowtin

Ida Mae Leath Dowtin was born in Brownsville, Tennessee on February 4, 1933, and died in Aiken, South Carolina Tuesday evening, March 26, 2024.

While attending West Tennessee Business College, Mae met Harold Dowtin.  They were married in November 1952 a few days after Harold’s 19th birthday.  Mae was nine months older than Harold but she wouldn’t marry him until both of their ages could be listed as 19 in their local newspaper’s wedding announcements. 

The couple eventually settled in the suburbs of Chicago in the mid-1960s after living in Memphis, Tennessee, Anchorage, Alaska and Little Rock, Arkansas. 

Mae began her career as a secretary in 1952 working for companies such as Proctor & Gamble Defense Corp, General Electric Company at the Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, the Little Rock, Arkansas VA Hospital and in the Base Commander’s Office at the Mallory Air Force Station in Memphis. She received numerous citations for her outstanding performance throughout her career until her retirement in 1988 from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. 

Curious, resourceful and artistic, Mae taught herself many crafts including sewing, crocheting and furniture re-upholstery.  While in Chicago, she and Harold enjoyed many years of square dancing and card games with their tight-knit group of friends who became like family.

After Harold’s retirement in 1988, they moved to Hilton Head Island and then to Aiken, South Carolina where they have resided since 2005.

During this time Mae became an accomplished and award-winning quilter with the Carolina Pine Quilters. She was passionate about the craft so for several years she hosted a very special group of talented ladies in her home to chat and quilt together. Mae’s quilts are works of art that are cherished by her friends and family.

She was preceded in death by her mother Ida Bell Leath Robinson and her father Murray Leath.  Mae is survived by her loving husband Harold Wayne Dowtin, her daughter Suzanne (Dowtin) Kopoulos and her son-in-law Nick Kopoulos.  Her mischievous smile, humor and dogged determination will be greatly missed.

A wake will be held at The Historic George Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 211 Park Avenue, SW, Aiken, SC 29801 on Monday, April 1, 2024, from 3:00pm until 5:00pm. A time of Celebrating Ida's life will be held at 4:30pm on Monday afternoon in the funeral home chapel.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the American Heart Association in Mae’s memory.  https://www.heart.org/en/get-involved/ways-to-give?form=FUNQCSERKQD or https://www.heart.org/en/get-involved/ways-to-give/mail-a-donation#:~:text=Mail%20a%20Donation%20in%20Honor%20or%20Memory&text=Donations%20are%20tax%2Ddeductible%20to,or%20send%20us%20a%20message.

Online expressions of sympathy for the family may be left by visiting www.georgefuneralhomes.com.