David De Von Downey

David graduated from Hale High School in Hale, Missouri in 1964. After some time in college, he paused to join the United States Army where he served during the Vietnam War. After serving with the Army, David returned to school where in 1973 he earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri where he met and married his wife, Donna Hamilton. Then in 1975, he achieved a Master’s degree in Religious Education from The Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He was employed at Fort Monroe as a civilian religious educator director, when his son Aaron was born. He was later employed with Raytheon in Sugar Grove, West Virginia as a computer maintenance technician which brought the family to the Shenandoah valley.

After retirement, David embraced his passion and became a master Biblical Storyteller, internalizing and presenting long sections of the Bible, including the entire book of Revelation. He was instrumental in founding a local guild of storytellers. He was also very skilled at his favorite pass-time, counted cross-stitch, making several larger works and creating and selling some of his own patterns to local craft stores. He was a long-time member of Harrisonburg Baptist Church where he served as Deacon on several occasions.

David is survived by his loving wife of nearly 52 years, Donna (Hamilton) Downey of Harrisonburg; son, Aaron Downey and wife, Leslie of Harrisonburg; sister, Marsha (Downey) Hoskins of Bedford, Missouri; three grandchildren by marriage, Christopher Ellinger (Candace) of Henrico, Akia Wilcox of Clarksburg, West Virginia and Kayleigh Ellinger of Staunton. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother-in-law, Linn Hoskins.

A Memorial Service will take place at 2:30pm on Sunday, June 29, 2025, at Harrisonburg Baptist Church.

Memorials may be directed to Shenandoah Valley Biblical Storytellers, c/o Muhlenberg Lutheran Church, 281 E Market St., Harrisonburg, VA 22801.