Donald Elery Downey

Don moved to Ventura in 1930 and attended Sheridan Way Elementary School, Ventura Junior High (Cabrillo), Ventura High School and Ventura Junior College. While at VHS Don excelled in sports, becoming the first to letter varsity in four sports.

In 1949 Don married his high school sweetheart, Ruth Foster. They started a family a year later having the first of two sons, Darrell, followed by Dennis three years later.

Don continued his love of sports by playing on many softball teams and many city league basketball teams. He then became a longtime Coast Little League coach, VYBA coach and Senior Babe Ruth coach. Don and Ruth were in many bowling leagues starting at the Avenue Bowling Alley and then the Poinsettia Bowling Alley, sponsored by Avenue Hardware all of those years. Don was a member and past president of the Saticoy Regional Sr. Men’s golf group. He also marshaled at Buenaventura Golf Course. He was very honored to be in the inaugural class of the Ventura College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006. He was also a long time member of the VC Pirate Bench Club.

Don had worked for Tidewater Oil and then 32 years at Point Mugu, retiring in 1989. He was a member of Avenue-E.P. Foster School Board and belonged to the VHS Wednesday Lunch Group. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church for 67 years where he ushered for many years.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, Elery and Eunice Downey, brothers Ardell Probasco, Gene Probasco, Dody Downey, Darrell Downey and his sister Shirley Dobbins. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Ruth; sons, Darrell of Gig Harbor, WA and Dennis of Ventura; brother-in-law, Ken Dobbins of Oak View; sisters-in-law, Connie Downey of Fillmore and Millie Downey of Ventura; sisters and brothers-in-law, Dorothy and Dick Catlett and Helen and Carl Lauber, all of Port Angeles, Washington; uncle, Bob Phillips of Sun City; three grandchildren; three great grandchildren and numerous nephews and nieces.

The family would like to thank the nurses and doctors of Community Memorial Hospital and the Livingston Memorial Hospice Nurses.

Services will be held Saturday, October 6, 2:00 P.M. at the First United Methodist Church, 1338 E. Santa Clara Street, Ventura.

Private burial will take place at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park, Ventura.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation in Don’s name to your favorite charity.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Road, Ventura.