JOSEPH DOWHY JR. was the son of the late Captain Joseph Dowhy Sr. of the Camden Fire Department. Joseph Dowhy Jr. was born on December 19, 1944 and joined the department on the same day as his brother, Dennis Dowhy, May 27, 1968. A third brother. Robert Dowhy, joined the department in 1982. The fourth brother, Edward Dowhy, joined the police department, retiring as a Lieutenant. The Dowhy brothers mother, Pearl Dowhy also served the public, as a crossing guard first in Camden and later in Clementon NJ.

Joseph Dowhy served with Ladder Company 1 at 2 North Federal Street in the 1990s. After a long and distinguished career, he retired to private life on April 1, 1996. He passed away on October 19, 2014.