Thomas Vincent Dowling, 79 of 882 Rockwood Lane Tryon, died October 7, 2010 at Spartanburg Regional Hospital.

Thomas was born in Queens, N.Y., and was the son of the late Vincent Dowling and Margaret McGrath Dowling. He was predeceased in death by his wife, Elsie Bolcar Dowling.

Thomas served in the U.S. Navy on the USS Coral Sea from 1951-1955.

He worked for the Long Island railroad where he retired in 1994.

Thomas is survived by two sons Michael Dowling of Port St Lucie, Fla.; and Thomas Dowling of Woodhaven, N.Y.; and four daughters, Kathleen Dowling, Margaret Ann Dowling, Barbara Dowling OConnell and her husband Jerry OConnell, all of Port St Lucie, Fla., and Anne Nagle and her husband Dennis Nagle of Tryon. He is also survived by two stepsons, Ralph Gibbons and Wayne Gibbons of Clifton, N.J. Thomas was preceded in death by his two brothers, Edward and Vincent, and is survived by their only remaining sibling, a sister, Patricia McCarthy of Springhill, Fla.&bsp; Thomas has three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren

Thomas was very passionate about and a consistent contributor to numerous animal and veterans causes. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Foothills Humane Society; 989 Little Mountain Rd., Columbus, N.C. 28722-5454 and the VFW, P.O. Box 1064, Columbus N.C. 28722.

The family will be holding a private memorial.

Condolences may be expressed on-line at www.mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com.

McFarland Funeral Chapel, Tryon.