Bryan L. McDowell, Captain, USAF

April 24, 1947 – April 23, 2023

Bryan Lee McDowell, 76, of Shreveport, died April 29, 2023, at 10:35am. A memorial service will be held in the First Presbyterian Church Sanctuary at 11:00 am Saturday, May 13th with a reception following. Bryan was born April 24, 1947, the oldest child of Woodyard L. “Woody” McDowell and Ruth Fisher McDowell in Little Rock, AR.

After graduating high school in Newport, AR, in 1965, he briefly attended Hendrix College in Conway, AR. During this time the Vietnam Conflict was in full swing. He received an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, CO. Bryan graduated in 1970 and was appointed to 2nd Lieutenant on June 3, 1970. After graduation from the academy Bryan volunteered for helicopter flight training with the U.S. Army. Finishing at the top of his group, he had his choice of duty stations and selected a slot in the 40th Air Rescue Recovery Squadron, based in Nakhon Phanom, a Royal Thai Air Base in Thailand, where he would fly the HH-53 helicopter, known as ‘Super Jolly Green Giant.’ Bryan earned the Silver Star for a rescue mission on November 18, 1972. During the nine-hour mission, which he referred to as “a miracle,’ he survived small arms and anti-aircraft fire to rescue two pilots. After Vietnam, then Captain McDowell completed his military service with NASA at Patrick Air Force Base during the Skylab missions, and at Eglin Air Force Base, both in Florida.

It was during this time in Florida that he met the love of his life: Jennifer Harris of Troy, AL. After a whirlwind courtship, the two were married on December 22, 1974, and they never left each other’s side. After Bryan left the military he and Jennifer traveled across the country; they loved to camp and spend time enjoying nature and the outdoors. Bryan soon felt the call to join the ministry and graduated from the Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Austin, TX. Later he continued his studies in Erlangen, Germany, and served congregations in Natchitoches, LA, Houston, TX, and Shreveport, LA. He also served as a mental health counselor for the Veterans Administration.

Reverend McDowell retired as Associate Pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Shreveport, LA in 2013, but continued to serve the area in various capacities. He loved his family immensely, as well as Astros baseball and fly fishing.

Bryan is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Jennifer, and his parents. He is survived by son, Miles and his wife Kathryn; daughter, Clara Wilkinson; brothers, Tim McDowell and Reed McDowell; sister, Elizabeth “Liz” Baker (and each of their families); grandchildren, Russell and Emma Wilkinson, and Moira and Drake McDowell.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, Shreveport, Heifer Project International, or to the charity/organization of your choice.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store. Published by Osborn Funeral Home – Shreveport on May 10, 2023.

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1^st Lt. McDowell served a tour in the Vietnam War as a HH-53C pilot with the 40^th ARRS in the 1972 time frame.