A Celebration of Addison’s life 10:00 am on Wednesday, January 6, 2021 at St. Ignatius Catholic Church, 126 W Oltorf St, Austin, TX 78704. Interment 2:15 pm at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery, 1520 Harry Wurzbach Road, in San Antonio.
Addison was born to Clarence and Ida Downey, a sharecropper family, on February 6, 1931 in Great Bend, Kansas. He graduated from Great Bend High School in 1950 and from Washburn University (Kansas) in 1954, majoring in Political Science. Addison ran track and field, and played football for the university, and remained a devoted football fan his entire life.
Upon graduation, Addison was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force, and became an Air Weapons Controller. In 1961, he was awarded the Chief of Staff Trophy while attending Squadron Officer School. Throughout his career, he was stationed at numerous locations including Germany, Turkey, the Philippines, and Thailand where he was awarded the Bronze Star for his work during the Vietnam War. Addison served 20 years in the Air Force retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1974.
In 1966, he married Mathilde ‘Tilly’ Hoerner from Celle, Germany and together they raised two children.
Addison is survived by his wife, Tilly; his daughter, Ina Downey; son-in-law, Keith Hicks of Austin, TX; numerous nephews and nieces around the world.
Addison was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters, Theda and Isabelle; and his son, Claude.
The Mass of Christian Burial for Mr. Downey at St. Ignatius Catholic Church may be viewed at, https://st-ignatius.org/live
