Bruce Willard Dowdy, 82, of Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia, passed away peacefully on October 7th after an extended illness. The love of his life, Desiree Beamer and his faithful Great Dane, Duke, were by his side.

Bruce Dowdy was born on January 20th, 1944, in Shreveport, Louisiana to Horace and Joy Dowdy. Bruce was a real “Dennis the Menace” of the neighborhood when he was growing up. Despite that label, he was a Cub Scout, Eagle Scout and an Altar Boy in the Catholic Church. He attended Andrew Louis High School in Salem VA and then earned his bachelor’s degree at East Tennessee State University before attending graduate school at the University of Virginia. 

Bruce was a submariner in the United States Navy during the Cuban Missile Crisis and Vietnam, before going into the music business as a band manager and agent for the group “Company Inc”. Bruce later went on to teach in the Roanoke County School System and Roanoke College. He also coached track and field at Salem High School. Bruce enjoyed boating, saltwater fishing, going to the Florida Keys each February and watching his beloved East Tennessee Bucs play basketball. Bruce never met a stranger and if you had the pleasure of meeting Bruce, you were probably going to get a legendary “Dowdy Story”. He also loved hosting his famous “Cheeseburgers in Paradise at Dowdyville” parties each summer at his home at Smith Mountain Lake.

Bruce is survived by the love of his life, Desiree Beamer; sisters, Brenda Doran and Barbara Dowdy; brother-in-law, Durwood Hall; nephews Brian Hall and his wife, Mary Elizabeth Banks, and Scott Doran; niece, Amy Doran; his “adopted daughter”, Melinda Thomas and her husband, Ben Thomas; and longtime friend, James Bartels.

Bruce was preceded in death by his parents, Horace and Joy Dowdy; and his sister, Bonnie Dowdy Hall.

A celebration of life will take place on a future date at Smith Mountain Lake.

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Moneta is assisting the family.