Sallie Proctor Dowd, age 75, passed away unexpectedly and peacefully on the evening of January 12, 2026. She had recently been diagnosed with heart problems and was undergoing testing to determine the best intervention.

Sallie lived with her husband of thirty-four years, Ken Dowd, at Bishop Gadsden Retirement Community. Before moving to Bishop Gadsden seven years ago, the Dowds lived in Spring Island, SC, London, UK, and New Canaan, CT.

Sallie was born December 15, 1950, in Winston-Salem, NC, the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Richard Proctor. She graduated from Salem Academy, was an honors graduate of Vanderbilt University, and received her MBA from Emory University Goizueta School of Business. Prior to her position as an investment advisor with Mitchell Hutchins in New York City, Sallie was an investment banker at Nations Bank/Bank of America in Charlotte, NC. She also counselled adolescents as a therapeutic assistant on a psychiatric inpatient unit at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, SC. Her strong work ethic and spirit of adventure provided other interesting employment experiences, among them crewing on a shrimp boat and staffing the Augusta National Pro Shop during the Masters Tournament. Sallie loved spending time in the NC high country and was a terrific dancer including clogging to bluegrass or other traditional folk music.

Sallie and Ken were passionate lovers of golf and played courses around the world. They also loved boating during their summers at Christmas Cove, ME. Sallie was an avid sports fan, especially of Wake Forest basketball where both her father and brother attended, and read her weekly Sport Illustrated with much pleasure. Ken and Sallie were patrons of the arts and supported many charities with their time and donations.

Sallie’s love of family, her loyalty to life-long friends, and her zest for life sustained her through many medical challenges. She could find humor in the direst of circumstances and rarely failed to bring laughter to those around her with her great stories and presence.

She is survived by her husband, Ken, her brother, Rick Proctor (Brenda), her niece, Ellie Proctor (Riley), and her nephew, Harley Proctor (Whitney). She is also survived by her stepchildren Warren Dowd (Caroline), Libby Dowd , and Sara Wells (Tom). Sallie especially enjoyed her 7 step grandchildren and 3 step great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at the Chapel at Bishop Gadsden on Tuesday, February 3rd at 11:00 AM with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Bishop Gadsden Employees Fund. Click on link, go to Project Designation tab, and then Employee Appreciation fund. https://bishopgadsden.givevirtuous.org/Donate