In 1930 Kate went to work for A&P Company in Delphi before opening her own store, Kate's Grocery Store in 1933.  During the war years she worked at Alcoa in Lafayette and had her mother help her manage the grocery store.

On Kate's birthday she always had free coke and ice cream for all the young and old and loved that special day.

Kate had a closely knit family that included sisters Josephine and Helen in Delphi, and brothers John in Flower and Art in Indianapolis.

  Miss Katharine E. "Kate" McDowell, 73, 823 E. Franklin St., Delphi, died at 1:52 a.m. Monday at St. Elizabeth Hospital where she had been a patient since January 7.
  Born June 29, 1909 in Delphi, she was the daughter of William D. and Lula Mellinger McDowell.  She was a 1927 graduate of Delphi High School.  She owned and managed Elmwood Grocery in East Delphi for 48 years and was forced to close the store in January 1 of this year because of her health.
  She was a member of First Presbyterian  church, American Legion Auxiliary and Psi Iota Xi sorority, all of Delphi.
  Surviving are two sisters, Mrs. Josephine M. Brown and Mrs. Helen Vaughan, both of Delphi; two brothers, John C. McDowell of Fowler and Arthur M. McDowell of Indianapolis; one nephew, one niece, two great nieces, and two great nephews.
  Services were today, Wednesday, at 2 p.m. at Horn Funeral Home with Rev. Ellis Gasser officiating.  Interment was in Morning Heights Cemetery.
 
Obituary notice taken from the Carroll County Comet, Wednesday, February 2, 1983