Susan M Downey

Susan Marie Downey, 76, passed away on October 17, 2019, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She was born in Fort Wayne, on February 10, 1943, to the late George W. Townsend, Sr. and Margaret Sue Beck Townsend. Susan graduated from Elmhurst High School in 1962 and earned her Bachelor’s in English from Purdue University in 1965. She taught English in Peru, Indiana, and Lakewood, Ohio, and worked at Plante Moran, an accounting firm in East Lansing, Mich. Her passion in life was genealogy research. She traced her family history back to the 1500s, also proving that one of her ancestors fought in the American Revolution. She also enjoyed doting upon her children, until she could begin doting on her grandchildren. She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Charles H. Downey of Fort Wayne; children, David (Kelly) Downey of Kalamazoo, Michigan; Charles (EV) Downey of Washington, D.C.; brothers George Jr. “Joe” and Richard W. Townsend both of Fort Wayne; sister Nancy E. Townsend of Rincon, Georgia; and her grandchildren, Margaret, Justin, Eloise, and Charles. Memorial service will be 3:00 pm Thursday October 24, 2019 at Greenlawn Funeral Home 6750 Covington Road Fort Wayne IN, 46804 with calling two hours prior. Preferred memorials to the Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana P.O. Box 12003 Fort Wayne, IN 46862 or ACGSI.org.