Robert Downs

Robert L. Downs, age 88, recently of Dover, Ohio and formerly of Middletown, Ohio died Monday, August 8, 2011 at Hennis Care Centre in Dover. He was born October 10, 1922 to the late Floyd and Lily Mae Roberson Downs of Middletown, Ohio. He was a 1941 Middletown High School graduate, where he played football. He served in the US Army during WWII and was a life-long member of the American Legion Post #218. He spent his career working at the Armco plant in Middletown, as a welder and foreman of the weld shop, and retired in 1985. Bob worked as a movie projectionist and loved John Wayne and western movies. He was a member of St. Paul's United Church of Christ. He enjoyed collecting coins and was a member of the Middletown Coin Club. He loved playing cards and spending time with family and friends. On September 22, 1944, he married his darling, Evalee Abney, who died October 10, 2007. He is survived by his beloved daughter, Theresa Marie Downs Schroeder of Dover, Ohio; two adored granddaughters, Dianna Schroeder Contosta of Columbus, Ohio and her husband, Tony, and Debbie Schroeder Wertz and her husband Bill of Circleville, Ohio; and his sister, Eleanor Tobin of San Antonio, Texas, as well as many nieces and great-nephews. In addition to his late wife, he was preceded in death by a son, Gary Lee, and sisters, Polly and Annetta. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Thursday, August 11, 2011 at the Breitenbach-McCoy-Leffler Funeral Home in Middletown, with calling hours prior at 1 p.m. Burial will be at Woodside Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, Church Street Station, P.O. Box 780, New York, NY 10008-0780, or www.michaeljfox.org.