Diane Wells McDowell passed away on Friday, March 10, 2023 at 91 years of age. She was born in 1932 in Wellington to Marian Atkins Wells and Henry Deskins (“Deck”) Wells, editor and publisher of The Wellington Leader for over 50 years.
A lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church, Diane attended public schools in Wellington, graduating as Valedictorian of Wellington High School in 1949. Thereafter, she attended Stephens College in Columbia, MO and later transferred to The University of Texas at Austin, where she was a member of Alpha Phi sorority.
On August 25, 1951, she married Dr. Ansel Lewis McDowell, Jr., to whom she was married for 65 years until his passing in 2016 at age 85. After dating some in high school, their serious dating began in the fall of 1950 when both were students at UT Austin.
The newlyweds set up their household in Galveston, where Ansel entered medical school at The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in September 1951 shortly after they were married. Diane entered Galveston’s UT nursing school where she was number one in her class. Their first child, Marian, was born in Galveston in 1953 — the same year Ansel joined the US Naval Reserve.
After graduating from medical school, Ansel interned at the United States Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, VA. The couple enjoyed living on the East Coast — taking weekend trips to historical places in Virginia, Washington, DC, Philadelphia and New York City and learning about the country’s history firsthand.
After completing his internship, Ansel was promoted to Lieutenant and attached to the Marine Corp USNR and sent to Camp Pendleton, CA near Oceanside. The little family of three drove from the East Coast to the West Coast never dreaming they would be in California for six years.
Diane remembers how brown the hills of Camp Pendleton looked in July compared with the lush green trees and landscape of Virginia. Later she would appreciate looking out from the kitchen table in one direction and seeing the Pacific Ocean and looking out the other direction and seeing the mountains. Linda, their second child was born in Oceanside in 1957.
In July 1958, Ansel began his surgical residency at the Kern County General Hospital in Bakersfield, CA, an affiliate of the USC Medical School in Los Angeles. Once Ansel finished his surgical residency, the couple was anxious to return to Texas and be closer to family.
They lived in Perryton for 12 years where Diane was an active member of the First United Methodist Church; a long-time member of the Jennie June Club where she served various offices, including president; substitute taught at Central Elementary School and participated in various fundraising drives for both school and charity.
Diane was a proud member of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Diane and Ansel made their final home for the last 40 years in Lake Jackson where Diane continued her work with the church and various charities. She loved the outdoors, and enjoyed working in her garden where she grew beautiful red amaryllis flowers.
Diane was a caring, nurturing and dedicated mother to her four children and to other children as well. She was a Sunday school teacher, a sponsor to the Methodist Youth Fellowship (MYF) at the church, and served as a perpetual “home room mother” for all four children.
She also was very proud of her eight grandchildren. Diane instilled in her children and grandchildren a love for reading and a dedication to their life pursuits. Both have fond memories of her reading to them and her encouragement to explore their intellectual curiosity. She loved when the entire McDowell clan gathered most summers at Surfside Beach at the “beach cabin” - - a family tradition dating back to 1963. Diane loved dogs and had many of them over her lifetime. She especially favored her last dog, a poodle named “Gigi”.
Diane was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Ansel; and her parents, Deck and Marian Wells.
Survivors include four children,MarianMcDowell of Alexandria, VA; Linda McDowell Offermann and husband, Martin of Stade, Germany; Ansel Mc-Dowell, III and wife Elizabeth of Bedford; and Stewart McDowell and wife Alison of Galveston; her brother, Henry Wells and wife Carol of Dallas; eight grandchildren,Adam Slaughter and wife Sandra of Houston, Douglas McDowell of Chattanooga, Meredith McDowell Ogle and husband Tyler of SanAntonio, John Offermann of Munich, Germany, Christine Offermann of Stade, Germany, Matthew McDowell of Houston, Amanda Mc-Dowell of Galveston, and Helen McDowell of Harrisonburg, VA; and three great-grandchildren, two nieces and one nephew.
A private graveside service will be held Saturday, March 18, and arrangements are being handled by Adams Funeral Home In Wellington. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the charity of your choice. Condolences for the family may be left at: http://www.adams funeralsvc.com