Carol Darlene Downing

Carol was born to Ernest and Lila (Peltonen) Korpi in Hibbing Village, Minnesota in 1937, the eldest of two children. In 1942, Ernest moved his family to Bremerton, WA, and then to Grand Coulee, WA, in 1945 to work on the construction of the Grand Coulee Dam. Carol attended Grand Coulee High School and was a drum majorette. As a young high schooler working her first job at the Grand Coulee movie theater, she met her future husband, Eugene Downing, of Lincoln, WA.

Following high school graduation in 1955, Carol moved to Spokane, WA to attend Kelsey-Baird Business School and was offered a receptionist job at Taylor-Edwards Warehouse on Hamilton Street. Eugene and Carol married on July 1, 1956, in Grand Coulee and lived in Cheney and Spokane while Gene attended Eastern State College. A year later, as the Korean War was drawing to a close, Eugene enlisted in the US Army and was eventually stationed in Hawaii. In 1958, their first child, Debra Ann, was born. Carol and Debbie joined Eugene in Hawaii when Debbie was 2 ½ months old. Carol loved Hawaii for its sunshine and warm temperatures.

After Eugene’s Army discharge and graduation from Eastern State College with a degree in teaching, the family moved to Granger, WA, where he accepted his first teaching position. Carol worked as a grade school secretary. Their second child, David Eugene, was born in Yakima in 1964. Another teaching job briefly took them to Inchelium, WA, before finally settling in Coulee Dam, WA, where Eugene was a long-time teacher and coach. Carol had a strong work ethic, working as an office clerk at Coulee Dam High School and then as city clerk for the town of Electric City, a position she held for 31 ½ years. She retired in 2002.

Carol was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. A compassionate caregiver, she made numerous trips to Galveston, Texas, with David for medical treatment when he was young. In their later years, she and Eugene enjoyed traveling in their motorhome and boating and fishing on Lake Roosevelt with their grandchildren. Carol loved shopping and always had a gift ready whenever her grandchildren visited. She will be remembered as a very generous and caring woman with a gentle heart. In 2021, Carol sold her home in Electric City, WA, and moved to Spokane to live with David.

Carol is survived by her children, Debra Zeiler of Odessa, WA, and David Downing of Spokane, WA; grandchildren Larissa Zeiler (Josh Clark) and Matthew (Alicia) Zeiler; one great-granddaughter, Emily Zeiler; brother Duane Korpi, sister-in-law Gloria Downing, and several nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Eugene; her parents; in-laws Donald and Helen Downing; brother-in-law Roland Downing; sisters-in-law Berda Ann Hansen and Linda Korpi; and son-in-law, Robert Zeiler.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, February 23, 2026, at 11 a.m. at Strate Funeral Home in Grand Coulee, WA (329 E. Grand Coulee Ave.). The inurnment service will follow at Spring Canyon Cemetery. The family suggests memorials may be made to the “Shriners Children’s Spokane” at 911 W. 5th Ave, Spokane, WA 99204.