George Dowell Jr. Leask

Dowell Leask of Oakland, CA, went into the Lord's presence in France on November 11, 1944 by enemy action. He was interred eventually at the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, CA. He was the son of Major George Dowell Leask (1896-1972), who had been recently been relieved of active service, and grandson of Mrs. Hannah A. Anderson (b. 1881), who was raised in Sweden and evidently in the Assembly. Major Leask was evidently an electrician prior to his time in the service.

Dowell's mother was Edna B. Anderson, born March 2, 1901 and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, and worked as a bookeeper for Eppley Hotel Company, but living in San Leandro, CA at the time of their wedding on Aug. 7, 1922. Edna's parents were Edward N. Anderson and Hannah Johnson Anderson. George Sr.'s parents were William Leask (1855-1940), a carpenter, and Alice Ramsay Kehr Leask (1877-1935). William & Alice had emigrated to the U.S. in 1884 from England.

Only twenty years of age, Dowell was saved about 1939. One of our most promising young men, he turned down offers of promotion that he might remain and witness for his Lord amongst his comrades. His latest letters prove that his affections were in the heavens. At the first public announcement of his home call, a breath-taking gasp was heard all over the Hall, which caused our brother, Neil Fraser, to change a previously announced subject to one of comfort and consolation. Dowell's departure has been keenly felt.  The picture below is of Major George Dowell Leask with his son Pfc. George Dowell, Jr. Leask.  His father was raised in Mason City, Iowa before moving to Oakland. Dowell's mother, Edna, died in Los Angeles on June 7, 1940.

Dowell was a member of the 328 Med Bn, 103rd Infantry Division of the U.S. Army as a conscientious objector. He was born Sept. 22, 1924 in Albany, CA, and at the age of 18 when he registered for the draft, in Feb. of 1943, he was employed at the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Company.

Sources

• January 1945: Light & Liberty
•  Picture from "the2dunks" from Ancestry.com where much of the history was obtained