Homegoing services for Clyde Odell Dowden, 87, will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, September 9, 2020 at Hope Springs United Pentecostal Church of Leesville.  Rev. S.G. Washington, Rev. J.R. Dowden, Rev. C.W. Dowden, Rev. Roger Tackett and Rev. Roger Free will officiate.  Burial will follow at Castor Cemetery of Leesville under the direction of Ardoin/Allen Parish Funeral Homes.

The family will receive visitors at Hope Springs United Pentecostal Church on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Visitation will resume on Wednesday morning from 10 a.m. until time of service.

Clyde was a devoted husband to his wife, Dorothy, for 64 years until her passing in 2019.  He was a loving father, grandfather and great grandfather.  He also loved his daughters-in-law as if they were his own and he cherished his time spent with his grandchildren.  Clyde served our country in the United States Army and was a Korean veteran. Over the years, he pastored three churches including Evans Pentecostal Church, Red Store Pentecostal Church and Simmons Mill Pentecostal Church. Clyde was also a mechanic by trade until he began pastoring Simmons Mill.  He touched many lives and will be forever remembered by all who knew and loved him.

Those left to cherish Clyde's memory include his five sons, Clyde Dowden, Jr. and Evelyn of Mittie, C.W. Dowden and Wanda of Anacoco, Keith Dowden and Melinda of Mittie, Eddie Dowden of Pitkin, and Timothy Dowden and Jill of Faulkner, MS; two daughters, Shirley Schysm and Roger, and Charlotte Free and Robert, all of Pitkin; two brothers, Hardy Ray Dowden and Lamar Dowden; one sister, Mildred Bingaman; 18 grandchildren; 30 great grandchildren; and 3 great-great grandchildren.

Clyde is preceded in death by his parents, Harvey and Ollie Legg Dowden; his wife, Dorothy Eaves Dowden; three brothers, Earl, Kenneth, and Thomas Dowden; one sister, Margie Nash; and one daughter-in-law, Sandy Dowden.

Pallbearers honored to serve will be Clyde's grandsons-Matthew Hill, Greg Dowden, Cheston Dowden, Josh Dowden, Ethan Dowden, and Cory Free.