Paula Lee Dowdy, 80, passed away peacefully at her home on Kates Mountain on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. Born on April 2, 1946, in Pineville, WV, she was the daughter of the late Paul William Phillips Sr. and Pearl Brooks Phillips.
Paula lived a life marked by compassion, determination, and service to others. A devoted Registered Nurse, she cared for patients for more than 30 years at Greenbrier Valley Medical Center, where her steady hands, kind heart, and natural leadership touched countless lives. She also served as a nursing advisor for Dabney S. Lancaster Community College, helping guide and encourage those preparing to enter the profession she loved.
From an early age, Paula understood the meaning of hard work and devotion. She helped raise her siblings, began her career as a hairdresser, and later put herself through nursing school while raising her children. She earned her MBA later in life from WVU. Her strength, perseverance, and generous spirit were evident in every chapter of her life.
Paula was full of life – caring, compassionate, outgoing, and social. She attended First Baptist Church of Fairlea and found joy in the simple beauties of the world around her. She loved cooking for others, tending flowers and gardens, quilting, enjoying her animals, spending time in nature, and beekeeping. Whether through her work, her home, or her friendships, Paula had a gift for making others feel welcomed, valued, and cared for.
She is survived by her husband of 35 years, Ben Dowdy; her children, Sidney Travis Shrewsbury and his wife, Waneta, and Abbie Franks and her husband, Dan; her brothers, Ron Phillips, Phillip Phillips and his wife, Sherry, and Paul Phillips, Jr. and his wife, Deanza; her sister, Wilhelmina Dixon; her granddaughter, Samantha Howerton and her husband, Jordan; and her great-grandchildren, Miles and Lizzy.
Funeral services will be held at noon on Tuesday, Sept. 1, at the Morgan Funeral Home Chapel, with Pastor Lee Bailey officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Greenbrier Memorial Gardens.
Flowers are welcome, or those wishing to honor Paula’s memory may make a donation to the animal welfare organization of their choice, a fitting tribute to her love for animals and her caring nature.
The family wishes to extend heartfelt thanks to Paula’s caregivers, Rebecca, Missy, and Haley, whose kindness and support helped keep her comfortable in her home.
Online condolences may be shared at www.morganfh.net. Arrangements are entrusted to Morgan Funeral Home, Lewisburg, WV.
