Arthur I Dow III

September 28, 1937 - February 28, 2022

Arthur I Dow III, was born in Los Angeles, California on September 28, 1937, to Arthur I and Edna (Peveto) Dow. To many he was simply and always known as “Buddy,” a nickname that stuck when his sister Bonnie Jean declared that “Art” was no name for her baby brother and that he was her “Buddy.” Art graduated from Huntington Park High School. He earned bachelor's (‘60) and master’s (‘62) degrees from the University of Southern California in Business Administration. He was proud member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ) and a life-long Trojans fan. After two years as an Army Specialist stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska, Art accepted a job with General Dynamics in New York City. It was there (in New York and at General Dynamics) that he met and married the love of his life, Carol (Pislor). Art loved his work and excelled in it. Work took him and Carol to California in 1965, where he worked as Contracts Manager in General Dynamics’ weapons systems manufacturing division. His assignment to establish a facility on the Navajo Reservation in Gallup, New Mexico helped to spur a life-long enthusiasm for the Navajo people and Navajo arts and crafts. After twelve years, Art took a job with Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), which would soon take him and his family to Northern Virginia in 1979 to lead SAIC’s contracts team in the nation’s capital. What was supposed to be an 18-month assignment in Virginia turned into a 36-year legacy leading diverse DoD contracting organizations in business development and contracts and as Principal of his own consulting practice. He did stints as a senior executive in an alphabet soup of defense contractors, including CACI, LSA, Century Technologies, KEI, Pearson Analytics, and DynCorp Int’l. He was especially fond of the opportunity to work in Afghanistan, Dubai and Jordan at the end of his career. Consistent with the way he led the rest of his life, he exemplified hands-on professional leadership, enabling those around him to succeed and grow in all aspects of their lives. Art and Carol became members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1975, a decision that shaped the trajectory of their lives for good. They were sealed for all eternity as a family in the Los Angeles temple in 1977 and devoted their lives to raising their children to be followers of Jesus Christ. Art served in many callings in the church, ministering faithfully to others and showing his commitment to living the second great commandment. Without question, his favorite church assignment was as a ward and stake employment specialist, helping countless people perfect their resumes, network, and find employment. He was a master in these things and saw it as a calling to share freely with anyone who would accept his help. It is not unheard of to meet someone and for them to ask: “Are you related to Art Dow? He was so incredibly helpful to me when I was [fill in the blank].” He and Carol cherished their time serving as Temple Workers in the Washington, D.C. Temple. Art was an exemplary and devoted husband, father and grandfather. He was a man of integrity. He made clear to his family, in word and in deed, that they were his first priority. He understood and taught his children that personal sacrifice is part of the job of being a father. At heart, he was a teacher. He loved being “Big Bear” to his “Little Bears” in Indian Guides and Indian Princesses, and participating in Scouts with his kids. He taught his children the finer points of loading a dishwasher, mowing a lawn, shoveling a driveway, changing a tire or a headlamp, writing a resume, giving a firm handshake; the list goes on and on. He encouraged his sons and daughters in building their own businesses using those skills, whether mowing lawns or breeding and selling guinea pigs to local pet shops (that was a thing once). He taught them to care for all kinds of pets, including building ant farms for the ant colonies he would help dig up in a nearby “canyon,” bringing wild jackrabbits home in his lunch sack, and catching tarantulas in a mason jar. He was particularly proud of the fact that his kids could catch and clean a fish at a young age. Most importantly, he was deliberate in teaching his kids and grandkids to value the things he held dear, including devotion to family, integrity, hard work, responsibility, respect, manners, humor, kindness, unselfishness and love. As a parent, he was a huge believer in the “law of natural consequences” and that “the lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine.” He was extremely supportive and expressed to his children his belief that they could accomplish anything. Fittingly, when it came time to select a name for his grandchildren to call him by, he insisted that they call him “Coach.” Art enjoyed many things in life. He enjoyed technology and figuring out how things work, fishing and the outdoors, our National Parks (Yosemite in particular), Navajo rugs and turquoise jewelry, duck prints, Johnny Cash, his boyhood Lionel Train collection, old coins and two-dollar bills. He was a self-taught carpenter and craftsman. He loved his workshop (aka the garage) and his toolbench. He relished the opportunity to undertake decades-long home makeover projects, like remaking a 1960’s era split-level house into a Williamsburg-style home to appeal to Carol’s love for all things Colonial Williamsburg, all on his own. But he was equally happy doing small projects, designing and building wooden tables and slides for his kids and grandkids, and teaching his grandsons the tricks of building a pinewood derby car. He lived by the mantra that every new project deserves a new tool. Above all, he enjoyed people. He had a smile and a handshake for everyone, yielding a great many friends and fans. Art passed away on February 28, 2022, from natural causes associated with Parkinson’s Disease, surrounded by family in his home in Herriman, UT. He will be missed, but we will hold him close and are sure in the knowledge that we will see him again. Art is survived by his wife, Carol, children Troy (Rachel) Dow, Melissa (Rob) Lym, John (Leslie) Dow, and Brittany (Janssen) Weeks, and 19 adoring grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, and son Danny (Darlene) Dow. A memorial service will be held at a later date in Oakton, Virginia. Details will be shared as they become available. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Missionary Fund of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints or the Parkinson’s Foundation.