Joseph Ernest Dowden, Jr.

Port Barre – It is with great sadness that the family of Joseph “Joe” E. Dowden, Jr., age 92, announces his death on Sunday, October 8, 2023, at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Nursing Facility in Opelousas, LA.  

Funeral services will be held at Sibille Funeral Home Chapel of Port Barre on Thursday, October 12, 2023.  Visitation will be from 9:00 to 11:00 am. A funeral service conducted by Retired Pastor Joseph Jenkins will begin at 11:00 am, immediately followed by burial in the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church Cemetery at the Rev. Eugene Senneville Memorial Mausoleum.  

A long-time resident of Port Barre, Joe was known and loved by many.  His “stories” will be forever remembered by all who had the privilege of listening to the tales of his adventurous life.  

Joe was born in Shreveport, LA, on September 30, 1931, but grew up in Campti, LA, a small community near Natchitoches, LA.  Joe, the only son of Joseph Ernest Dowden, Sr. and Annie Laura Antilley, enjoyed the adventures of country life with his sisters, Wanda Lea, Edna Earle, and Molly “Polly” Yvonne.

A true patriot, Joe proudly served his country for 3 years in the US Army and 21 years in the US Air Force. Enlisting in the US Army shortly after high school, Joe helped to defend the values of our country in the Korean War, and later, as part of his US Air Force career, the Vietnam War.  MSgt Joseph E. Dowden retired from the military in 1975 and settled down in his wife, Betty’s, hometown of Port Barre, where that “good old north Louisiana boy” quickly came to love and envelope the traditions of his Cajun family. For many people, a 24 year career in the military would have been enough, but not for Joe.  From the skills helearned in the US Air Force, Joe was hired by Superior Air Products, based in New Jersey, where he worked for another 20 years.  During his military career and his tenure with Superior Air Products, Joe traveled to over 65 different countries.  The adventures he experienced during those years provided the material for Joe’s amazing storytelling.  

Joe leaves behind his beloved wife of 71 years, Betty Lois Ledet Dowden; sister-in-law & brother-in-law, Peggy Lalonde Matt and Sidney Matt; daughter-in-law, Lori Ann Donaldson Dowden; nieces & nephews, Kathy Goings Cook (Donn), Kenneth Goings (Sharon), Billy Stiles, Dennis Ledet (Terri), David Ledet, Richard “Dean” Ledet, Darrell Ledet, Tara Matt, Brian Matt (Alicia); great-nieces and nephews, Anthony Goings, KayLeigh Cook, Dylan Cook, Kristen Ledet Bissell, Jason Ledet, Hannah Ledet Lanclos, Nicholas Ledet, Bryce Ledet, Gabrielle Matt, Abram Burleigh, Ethan Matt, Aaron Matt, Elijah Matt.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Ernest Dowden, Sr. and Annie Laura Antilley; his paternal grandparents, Robert Hugh Jefferson A. Dowden and Martha Custis Coote; his maternal grandparents, David Augustus Antilley and Lillie Ardelia Thompson; his son,Lt Col Paul Edward Dowden; sisters, Wanda Lea Dowden Hinton, Edna Earle Dowden Stiles, and Molly (Polly) Yvonne Dowden Goings Howard; mother-in-lawand father-in-law Evangeline Arceneaux Ledet Lalondeand Aloysius Ledet; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Leroy Ledet and Lillie Mae Dawsey Ledet; and nephew, Albert Howell Stiles.

Special thanks to cousin, Kathy Traylor, for all the love,affection, and assistance that she bestowed on Joe and Betty over the last several years.  

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Words of Comfort to the family may be expressed at www.sibillefuneralhomes.com. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Sibille Funeral Home of Port Barre.