Lescher Dowling

Obituary

Lescher Dowling of Sunnyvale, California, a member of the Greatest Generation, passed away on February 13, 2024. He was 101 years old, though to meet him you’d have guessed he was much younger. Born and raised in Carpinteria, California, Lescher was the son of Julia [Lescher] Dowling and Walter Dowling. His siblings were Martha Rose (Dowling) Rodriquez, Kenneth Dowling, and half sisters, Dortha and Irene Dowling. Lescher met his future wife, Dorothy Eichelberger, at a school dance. He was immediately smitten and did his best to win her affection, but was was soon drafted into the Army when WWII started. He served in the China Burma India 7th Veterinary Corps, shipped overseas with a load of mules destined for troop support. Dorothy felt it was her patriotic duty to write to a serviceman, and it was this correspondence that caused their relationship to truly blossom. Home at the wars’ end, Lescher attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, on the G.I. Bill. He graduated with an Industrial Arts teaching credential, married Dorothy, moved to San Diego and taught for 3 years at the San Diego County Juvenile Hall. He often remarked that working at ‘Juvie’ gained more positive response from potential employers than the other skills listed in his resume. He landed a job at his old Alma Mater, Carpinteria High School, where he taught shop, printing, drafting & photography. During this time he and Dorothy had two children, Richard and Lela Ann. They enjoyed Dad’s summers off, when they would go explore the National Parks. After deciding to focus on photography, Lescher took classes at Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara. He was hired to head the Photography Department at Foothill Junior College in Los Altos Hills. ‘Mr. D’ was a popular and personable teacher, always willing to field questions during lunch hour in his office. He cited that working with students kept him young. Upon retirement in 1990, Lescher and Dorothy began educational travel and learning adventures through Elderhostel. He rekindled a model airplane hobby from his youth, joining SAM 21, the Society of Antique Modelers. He built and flew gas-powered remote controlled model airplanes, but mostly enjoyed collecting and repairing their vintage engines. Lescher was also on the founding committee for the Foothill-De Anza Community College Retirees Association. He and Dorothy also enjoyed taking memoir writing classes, but their greatest passion was involvement in the nationwide CBI Veterans Association. They attended monthly luncheons and national conventions with other CBI veterans, many of whom became great friends. Lescher served on the board of the San Francisco based chapter as Commander and several other positions, as membership declined with time. He wrote a book of his wartime adventures in the CBI, titled, ‘A Light Trail’, which will eventually be available on Amazon. Dorothy passed away in 2021, and Lescher is survived by his children; Richard Dowling and Lela [Dowling] Cirocco, grandchildren Sara & Skye, as well as 4 great-grandchildren. His wry humor, wisdom, helpful advice and stories from the old days, all will be greatly missed.