It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Thomas Patrick Dowling, a founding member of the ISEE. Mr. Dowling was born on September 27, 1927, in Ocean View, Va., the son of Patrick E. and Marion A. (Kelly) Dowling.
He graduated from St. Joseph’s Parochial Grade School, Toms River, N.J.: Lakewood High School, Lakewood, N.J.; and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from the Indiana Institute of Technology.· He also was awarded a Doctorate of Civil Engineering from that university. He graduated from the Engineer Officer Candidate School, Fort Belvoir, Va., and served as an Engineering Officer in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
He held technical positions with Trojan Powder Company, CSC Corporation, International Minerals and Chemicals, Angus Chemical Corporation, Appalachian Explosives Company and was employed as manager, technical services, with the Institute of Makers of Explosives (IME). He was a consultant on blasting and explosives issues.
Mr. Dowling was a registered professional engineer in Pennsylvania and Virginia and was a licensed blaster in Pennsylvania for more than 50 years. He was a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers, the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers, the American Society of Civil Engineers, The Society of Mining Engineers, a 50 year member of the Society of American Military Engineers and a founding member of the International Society of Explosives Engineers. He served on the IME Technical Committee for more than 30 years and on a number of Committees of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). He chaired the NFPA 495 AND 498 committees.
He held a number of patents for explosives and blasting products and authored and served as contributing editor for technical articles on explosives and blasting procedures.
Mr. Dowling was a life-long Roman Catholic and was a member of St. James Roman Catholic Church of Charles Town, W. Va.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Granis E. (Pyles) Dowling and a number of nieces and nephews.
A memorial service is planned for 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 25, 2013, at:
St. James Catholic Church
49 Crosswinds Dr.
Charles Town, WV· 25414
Friends from the church will be hosting a brief reception following the service. Tom's ashes will be buried in a family plot in Romney, W. Va., at a future date. Granis thanks everyone for their thoughts and prayers and understands it may be difficult for many to attend.
