William Steven McDowell, known to family and friends as Steve, passed away at his home in Colville, Washington on October 26, 2026. Steve was born on November 2, 1946 at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina to his parents, William Floyd and Dorothy Irene (Hollis) McDowell.

Steve’s father was a Major in the US Army, and Steve and his brother, Jeffrey, grew up on army bases in Germany and Japan. When his father retired from the army, the family settled in Jacksonville, Florida, where Steve attended and graduated from Bolles School. He attended Jacksonville University and later, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida.

In August of 1967, Steve joined the US Air Force, and went on to become a sergeant, specializing in electronics. He served one rotation at a remote base in Labrador, Newfoundland, and then transferred to Colorado, where he served at Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado Springs. He retired from the Air Force in May, 1973, and used his GI benefits to complete training as a pilot, achieving every certification from single engine aircraft to instrument rating, instructor certification, and later flew as a 737 captain for Southern Air Transport.

In 1973, Steve went to work as a flight instructor at the Colorado Springs Airport, where he met Gail McDowell when she enrolled at the flight school to get her pilot’s license. He was assigned as her flight instructor. Gail never did get her pilot’s license, but she got the pilot. They were married on August 29, 1977. Steve became a crop duster, a job which took them all over the United States, and even to Egypt for a few months early in their marriage. They settled in Royal City, Washington, where their two sons, John and Robert, were born. Later, when Steve was flying for Southern Air Transport, the family moved to Colville, Washington, where they have lived for thirty-seven years.

When Steve decided that his flying job required him to miss too much of his family’s life, he retired from Southern Air Transport, taught himself everything he could about computers, and opened a computer store in Colville, called INW Computers. Even after retirement, Steve continued to enjoy all things aviation and was the family computer expert for many years.

His boys remember him reading them “chapter books” at bedtime, taking them sailing on the family sailboat, teaching the art of sitting quietly waiting for the fish to bite, as a coach for their Little League teams, a relentless tease of all the girls they brought home to meet the parents, and as teacher of many practical lessons about life. They would sometimes say, “Dad, spare us the lecture. Just spank us and get it over with.”

Steve was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Jeffrey. He is survived by his beloved wife, Gail, son John (Katy), son Robert, grandson Aidan, and granddaughters, Ryan and Lily, as well as many extended family members. A memorial service will be held at a future date. Please visit the online memorial and sign the guestbook at www.danekasfuneralchapelcom. Danekas Funeral Chapel and Crematory is entrusted with the arrangements.