Memorial
Delores Rosella Whalen Meighan McDowell, 92, of Cedar Rapids, IA, passed away July 27, at Solon Care Center. Funeral services will be held 10:30 AM Thursday, July 31 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids. Burial will follow at Cedar Memorial, Cedar Rapids. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 30 from 5 PM - 7 PM at Cedar Memorial, with a 6:30 PM scripture service.
Delores was born on August 30th, 1921 on the rural Lansing, IA, farm of her parents, William Thomas and Agnes M. (Danaher) Whalen. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary's Lycurgus Catholic Church. Delores attended the Lycurgus Rock School and graduated from Waukon High School.
During WWII she worked in a Waterloo factory to support the war effort. In 1945 Delores was united in marriage to Robert G. Meighan. The couple was blessed with daughter, Joan Ann. Robert passed away in 1956.
Delores lived in Cedar Rapids the remainder of her life. She worked at Iowa Steel and Penick and Ford. Delores married William Vernon McDowell on February 14th, 1969. Bill and Delores loved dancing and spending time with friends and family.
Delores was a faithful member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids. She was an avid bowler on her championship team "The Granny Gutter Dusters." Delores spent many years caring for her grandchildren and family. She always had a clean house where cookies, stories and prayers were freely offered. She enjoyed dining out with friends and family.
Survivors include her daughter Joan (Richard) Running of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; grandchildren, Elizabeth Running (Mark) Hey, Stefanie Running, Kirsten Running (Coy) Marquardt and Chad (Amy) Running; great-grandchildren Matthew, Grace, Liam and Jack; brother Jim (Bess) Whalen of Augusta, WI; sisters-in-law, Bernie Whalen of Waukon and Lee Whalen of Elkader; step-brother-in-law, Mark Mauss of Waukon; step-sister-in-law, Mary Ellen Zoll of Cedar Rapids; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Delores is preceded in death by her parents; her husband Robert G. Meighan; her husband William Vernon McDowell; sisters Anna Mae (Bob) Curtin, Julia Whalen and Dorothy Davis; brothers, Emmett, Donald, Dan (Jeri), and Patrick Whalen; step mother Hazel Whalen and Hazels's children and spouses James, Vivian Zoll, Walter Larson, Mary Mauss and Myrt Larson.
The family would like to thank Solon Care Center for their care of Delores.