Wendell Douglas Downer

Wendell Douglas Downer passed into God’s hands September 18, 2016 to be reunited with the love of his life, Ruby, who had gone before him (2014). Doug was the loving Father of Judith Renteria and a great friend to Ray, her husband. Doug loved spending time with his grandsons Joe and Douglas and their families. He loved going to coffee and discussing Joe’s inventions with him, just as he loved talking about their mutual military experiences with young Douglas. Visits from Joe and Cindy and their children Isabella and Rodrigo, and from Douglas and Yadira and their children, Angie, Emily and Elizabeth, were among the happiest times in his life. He taught them to laugh at life’s problems and to always be kind. They are all very like him.

Doug was the third child of 8 born to Ellen and Carl Downer of Oakdale, Massachusetts. He took on the responsibility of caring for the 5 younger ones when his Mother became unable to do so. He was known for his pancakes by his grateful siblings: Orton, Velma, Marjorie, Alden, Wayne, Wesley and Marion. He began working on cars at an early age, and even owned his own garage for a time. He also sang on the radio and did some emcee work off and on. He loved being in front of people.

Perhaps because Doug was born on Flag Day (June 14, 1928), he always had a great sense of patriotism. In 1950 he joined the Navy and began a 30 year career aboard a dozen ships from the U.S.S. Toledo to the U.S.S. Camden. He and his brother Wayne sang on the Navy radio. Doug was a storekeeper whose attention to detail, penchant for improving things and wonderful way with people led him up the ranks to E9, Master Chief. He spent three years in the service working at the Pentagon as a detailer. Doug was always fond of his Navy years and proud to serve his country.

In 1952 Doug married Ruby Marie Linder who called him her “knight in shining armor”. They never said an unkind word to each other in 62 years of marriage. If they disagreed, Doug would go to his garage and Ruby to her piano, until they forgot about it. They always believed you had to put the other person’s needs first in a marriage. Stationed in Florida at first, they moved to Downey, California when their daughter Judith Laurie was 3. (A second child, Scott Douglas, died shortly after birth.) God then blessed them with a son, Craig Wendell. Doug and Ruby ensured that Judi and Craig would know the family back east through long road trips to Ohio, Massachusetts and Florida. These trips made the four of them very close and gave them a great love for our nation.

As Judi and Craig became teens, their friends found in the family a loving place to hang out. Some stayed for months; most stayed in contact through adulthood, they were all their “kids”. After retiring from the Navy, Doug used his skills and experience to get an autobody degree, and began to teach students at Norwalk High School in Norwalk, California. He enjoyed helping the young people become skilled and thoughtful about their futures. While Ruby was finishing up her career at North American Rockwell, Doug spent time teaching and working on cars with his son, Craig. They could always be found in a garage, restoring cars and having a great time. While Judi and Ray finished up degrees and had their son, Joseph Raymond, Craig decided to go to college in Florida, enjoy his cousins, and finish up his Dad’s Model A Ford. But he never made it back home.

Through God’s loving comfort, family and friends Doug, Ruby and Judi survived the devastating loss of their precious son and brother, Craig, from an accident in 1982, just 6 months after Judi and Ray had their second son, Douglas Carl. Having 2 grandsons toddling around at that time was a great blessing to all.

After their retirements, Doug and Ruby moved to Cherry Valley, sharing a lilac farm with Judi and Ray and sons. Doug enjoyed being a gentleman farmer on his tractor, and giving lectures about their lilacs. They found a church home in the Yucaipa Church of God where they had their 60th wedding anniversary. They loved Hawaii and made several trips there touring the islands with family and friends. Doug also loved to bowl and they were often off to Laughlin for his tournaments. For years, Dad had been a member of SPEBSQA, and he continued singing Barber Shop Quartet music with the Golden Chordsmen of Hemet. It probably helped that Ruby could play his music on the piano. He drove his Model A Ford in many parades, especially in the Cherry Festival Parades, driving various dignitaries. In his last year he lived with Judith and Ray and looked forward to visits from his buddy, Shawn, and breakfast with Ruby’s brother Donnie, as well as sister Judy and sister-in-law, Ella. He was delighted whenever the grandchildren and great-grandchildren came to see him. They meant everything to him.

Douglas is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Judith and Raymond Renteria; his grandsons Joseph and Douglas Renteria and their families (5 great grandchildren); his brothers Alden and Orton, his sister Velma, 22 nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by his wife Ruby, sons Scotty and Craig, a great grandson, Gabriel, brothers Wesley and Wayne, sisters Marion and Marjorie.

His funeral was October 6th, 2016 at Weaver’s Mortuary in Beaumont, California, with burial with full military honors at Riverside National Cemetery.

Donations may be sent to the Stroke Association of Southern California.

Arrangements under the direction of Weaver Mortuary, Beaumont, CA.