Richard Downs

Richard Downs, 91, an extraordinary sportsman and loving husband and father, died early Sunday morning surrounded by his family. Mr. Downs was born in Toledo, Ohio on October 21, 1916. He graduated from Waite High School in 1934 and attended The University of Toledo. During his high school years, he played for Toledo Silver Streaks, a football team in The Ohio Bantamweight Football Association owned by Scripps Publishing. In his twenties, he trained under coach, Pepi Justo, at the University of Toledo becoming a Golden Gloves Boxer. He was a longshoreman for 40 years at the Toledo Lakefront Docks, unloading oarboats including the famed Edmund Fitzgerald. In April of 1943, he enlisted in the Army Airforce to serve his country in WWII. As a first lieutenant, he piloted aircraft and commanded crew in the transportation of troops into enemy territory. Flying cargo including 55 gallon drums of gasoline and Chinese infantrymen over the Himalayas, he completed 72 combat missions in China, Burma and India. He was awarded the air medal with three oakleaf clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross. He flew both C-46 and C-47 aircraft. The C-47 had a 95 foot wing span and carried cargo of 33, 000 pounds. He was proud of having taught his grandson, John, to fly; and in 2007, he pinned Airforce wings on John at his ROTC Commissioning Ceremony. He was a charter member of the Toledo Submariners Scuba Club and taught scuba diving at the YMCA. He designed and built a plexi-glass camera cover which enabled underwater photography. He took his family on annual trips to the Florida Keys, one year wrestling a forty pound grouper to the surface. He then had the fish smoked and sent home. In his later years, he attended yearly hump pilot conventions as a member of the China Burma India Hump Pilot Association, sometimes arriving with his wife in his own Cessna 150, a plane he flew beyond his 90th birthday. He was a member of the Heatherdowns Country Club and a long-time member of the Toledo Sailing Club. After retiring, he spent many winters sailing Seahawk his Downeaster throughout the Carribean. He enjoyed maintaining friendships with fellow sailors hailing from Michigan, Texas and Florida. Recently he kept his plane at the Bordner Airport outside of Bowling Green. In a newspaper article appearing in the Bowling Green Sentinel, he was quoted as saying, When you retire, thats what youre after-fun. And you cant have fun without toys,' he said, glancing toward his two-seat Cessna. He loved the challenges of scuba diving, flying and sailing maintaining a sense of adventure that lasted a lifetime. Dick is survived by his loving wife of 37 years, Betty Teize Downs, his daughters, Jennifer Rogers, Shelley David Kozy, Jane Dan Blackshaw and step-daughter, Gale Mike Kilcorse; grandchildren, Diana Scott Biggins, Lisa Matthew Reece, Julie Will Bruckert, Leah Kozy, John Kozy, Kari and Jeffrey Blackshaw; great grandchildren, Tyler Whearty, Jonell, Clayton and Lanie Reece and Evelyn Bruckert; step-grandchildren, Mike, Tim Amy and Jeff Kilcorse and Erinne Josh Conley; 7 step-great grandchildren; sister, Eleanor Dickerhoff, as well as many nieces, nephews and loving friends. He was preceded in death by his beloved first wife, Jonell; son, Richard who died in 1953, half brother, John Sheehy and half sister, Gladys Sigismond. The family would like to give special thanks to Dicks granddaughter, Diana and her fianc, Scott, for their love and care. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, October 11, 2008 at 11:00 AM at Ottawa Hills Memorial Park Cemetery. Arrangements by Maison-Dardenne-Walker Funeral Home 419 893-7686. www.walkerfuneralhomes.com