Dean McDowell, age 74, of Osawatomie, Kansas, died January 16, 2011 at Olathe Medical Center.

Dean was born July 9, 1936, the second of five children born to David Harrison and Hazel Marie (Troutman) McDowell. He graduated from Osawatomie High School with the Class of 1955.

Dean was married to Rita Ann Arbogast on November 26, 1960 in Osawatomie. They became the parents of three daughters.

Dean served his country with the United States Marines from 1955 until 1957. He received the Good Conduct Medal. After his active duty discharge, he transferred to the Marine Corps Reserves. He served in the reserves for four years.

He was a police officer in Osawatomie for 20 years, 1965 until 1985. Before those 20 years as a police officer, he had worked construction, worked at the ice plant in Osawatomie, drove a semi for his uncle, drove a milk truck at Emporia, and worked for a ranch in western Kansas. Later, he was a security guard at Linn Valley for 10 years.

He was a member of St. Philip Neri Catholic Church in Osawatomie, Fraternal Order of Police, the Eagles in Paola and formerly a member of the Elks Lodge #921 in Osawatomie.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Eldon.

He is survived by his wife Rita of the home; his children Rhonda McDowell of Osawatomie, Roberta and Kevin Zimmerman of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Roxanne and Rick Stookey of Osawatomie; three sisters Carolyn Francis of Harlingen, Texas, Vera Waller of Overbrook, Kansas, and Donna Edgecomb of Pomona, Kansas; two grandchildren Christopher McDowell and Elizabeth Stookey; other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, January 20, 2011 at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church in Osawatomie. He will lie in state after 1 p.m., Wednesday, January 19, 2011 at Eddy- Birchard Funeral Home. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home with military honors being conducted at 7 p.m. Cremation following. Memorials are to the American Heart Association.