His hobby was woodworking in which he built several shelves and tables which survive him today. In addition to being known as "Till," family began calling him "DD" shortly after their first grandchild. David Carl Scarborough, Jr. began calling him "DD" after he began talking. David Scarborough also "named" Sarah Craft Dowdey "MaMa."

At age 26, Till began three years of service in the Navy during World War I and drew duty on the USS President Lincoln. It was a transport ship which carried soldiers to France. On May 31, 1918, during his fifth round-trip back to the United States, Germans submarine U-90 fired 3 torpedoes into the port side, sinking the ship in about 20 minutes with 715 on board. Although 26 men were lost, he survived on a raft in the water for about 18 hours. After he returned home, he worked as an electrician repairing railroad locomotives for Southern Railway in Columbia, South Carolina. He retired after 40 years. The Dowdey Family House was his home for almost 30 years.

Excerpts from the obituary: T. M. Dowdey, Sr. of 809 South Maple Street (Columbia, SC), retired Southern Railway employee, died Sunday in the Veterans Hospital. Funeral services will be in Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, Tuesday at 3 p.m. Burial will be in Greenlawn Memorial Park.
He was born in Lower Richland County, son of the late William Henry and Susan Morgan Dowdey. He was a member of the Maple Street Southern Methodist Church and a veteran of World War I. Mr. Dowdey was a member of the Railroad Retirement Club.

DD and "Rusty" taking it easy in front of the garage/carport at 809 South Maple Street, Columbia, SC. Photo's date is September 16, 1961. Photo courtesy of Jim and Sarah Dowdey Minick.   The picture below was taken when "Till" was in grade school. He is in the second row from the top, on the right, holding up the baseball bat. Note also that Sarah Craft is in the picture. She is in the third row from the top, center of the picture, with pigtails!