Don L. Dow

Don LeRoy Dow was born 14 April 1950 in Rochester, Strafford, New Hampshire, the son of Roland Dinsmore Dow and Rev. Greta Ellen (May) Dow. He entered eternal comfort and peace on 28 January 2025 at Crestwood Center in Milford, Hillsborough, New Hampshire. 

His childhood years were spent on Durgin Road at the Tuftonboro/Ossipee town line, where his grandfather, Ausbrey Nutter Dow, and his father owned over three hundred acres operating an apple orchard and several produce gardens. Ausbrey and Bernice Dow, his paternal grandparents, taught all their grandsons the importance of performing every task to the best of their mental and physical ability and to greet everyone with a smile and a hand extended in friendship. 

Don’s maternal grandfather, Rev. W. Harry May of the Moultonville United Methodist Church, sadly passed away from Scarlet Fever before any of his grandchildren were born, and his wife, Nellie May, was asked by the parishioners to stay on as their preacher. Nellie was ordained and later remarried. Rev. Nellie Merrow ensured that Don and his siblings had a strong moral compass from the very beginning. She made sure they knew right from wrong and fostered a strong love of God and Country in each, something that has endured for all their lives. 

During his High School years at Kingswood Regional High School, Don he sang with “The Carrollers of Carroll County,” a vocal group founded by his mother, who performed two concerts each year at multiple church locations throughout New England. Don graduated from Kingswood Regional High School in 1968. In adulthood, he continued performing as singer in a Barbershop Quartet, which he enjoyed immensely.

Don enlisted in the U.S. Army for a three-year term, rather than being drafted during the Vietnam War and served in two tours. The first, from 1 January 1969, to 12 December 1969, at Phu Loi, Xuan Loc (Black Horse Base camp), Bear Cat, Long Bien and the second at Bien Tuy (Mekong Delta) from 1970-1971. These two tours and his exposure to Agent Orange, left lifelong physical and emotional scars, for which he received wonderful care by the Veteran's Hospital and staff, until the very end. 

Don was an independent computer programmer and the author of Crypto-Mania, a cryptogram word game. He was also a Hypnotherapist with private practice for nine years in southern New Hampshire. A member of the National Guild of Hypnotists (NGH), Don was recognized for several awards, including the NGH Meritorious Service Award in 1992, the NGH Member of the Year Award in 1994, and the NGH President's Award in 1995. He was also a Therapeutic Touch Practitioner and a member of the Nurse Healer's Professional Association for 10 years. 

Don is predeceased by his parents, Roland (1919-2004) and Greta Dow (1923-2004); two brothers, Rodney Nutter Dow (1949-1963) and Wayne Arnold Dow (1947-2024); and a sister-in-law, Lynda Lee (Johnson) Dow (1947-2024). 

He is survived by two brothers, Chester D. Dow (Patricia) and Stephen R. Dow; his sister-in-law, Marcy (McGloin) Dow; five nephews, Adam, Jonathan, David, Rodney, and Chris; two nieces, Tanya and Aubri; four half-aunts, one half-uncle, and many cousins. 

Don never married or had children of his own. He was, however, the Godfather of Lizmarie Yvette Restrepo. In this role, he enjoyed many years of family activities with Lizmarie as her Padrino.

Assisting the family with arrangements is the Cremation Society of NH, Manchester. A remembrance of life ceremony is being planned for June at the Union Congregational Church. To view Don's Online Tribute, send condolences to the family, or for more information, visit www.csnh.com.